Metal deforming – With cutting – By composite tool
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-08
2001-06-05
Crane, Daniel C. (Department: 3724)
Metal deforming
With cutting
By composite tool
C072S409010, C030S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The J-channel siding tool significantly increases the ease of creating drainage tabs, notches, and miter cuts during the installation of J-channel siding, proximate to doors and windows of a building.
In the past, an individual, during finishing activities of siding installation, was required to use a duckbill or aviation-type of snip to cut tabs and/or notches into J-channel siding for finishing areas adjacent to doors and windows. Placement of J-channel siding proximate to the corners of doors and windows was especially problematic in that the use of an aviation snip for creation of tabs and/or notches for mating or interlocking of the J-channel siding pieces proximate to a corner was extremely difficult and time consuming. In order to create a tab or notch for mating of perpendicular pieces of J-channel siding, an individual in the past was required to make at least two or three separate and distinct cuts within the confined space of a J-channel. An individual was frequently required to use his or her best efforts to position the cuts in a desired location while simultaneously attempting to make the separate cuts the same length for creation of a rectangular shaped tab or notch. The individual's efforts in making the distinct and separate cuts, of uniform length, in a desired location within the confined space of a J-channel, was extremely challenging and time consuming. As such, significant time loss to workmen occurred in conjunction with the associated material waste due to inaccurate and/or unusable cuts.
An attempt to solve this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,746 to Byers, which created a siding cutting tool which made narrow slits in siding at a location as desired by an individual. This patent failed to solve the initial problem of eliminating the necessity for an individual to make multiple cuts for creation of tabs and/or notches within adjacent pieces of J-channel siding. In addition, the '746 patent failed to solve the problem of making cuts within the J-channel of uniform size. Further, the '746 patent failed to provide a tool which maximized the flexibility to a user, enabling an individual to selectively make a tab or notch through the one-step or cut operation of the tool. As such, the '746 patent may have represented a perceived improvement over the duckbill or aviation-type of snip, without solving the efficiency and related problems associated with finishing and installation of mating adjacent perpendicular pieces of siding proximate to the doors and windows of a building.
A J-channel siding tool is needed to minimize installation time and maximize efficiency of a worker for installing and mating adjacent pieces of perpendicular J-channel siding proximate to the doors and/or windows of a building. The J-channel siding tool enables a worker to place, in a one-cut operation, a drainage/mating tab, notch, or miter finish cut within J-channel siding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The J-channel siding tool is preferably used to cut tabs or notches or a miter finishing cut in J-channel vinyl or aluminum siding in perpendicularly adjacent pieces proximate to the corners of doors or windows of a building, through the one cut operation of the tool by an individual. The J-channel siding cutter includes a pair of pivotally interconnected handles, a first cutter having a pair of first cutting surfaces and a first traverse cutting surface on one of the handles, and a second cutter having a pair of second cutting surfaces and a second traverse cutting surface on the other handle. The second traverse cutting surface is recessed with respect to the pair of second cutting surfaces to enable an individual to selectively determine, in one cut, whether to create a tab or notch within J-channel siding. The first cutter may also include a stop for defining a uniform length of tab or notch. The J-channel siding tool may also include a biasing member disposed between the pair of handles for urging the handles apart and separating the first cutter from the second cutter while in the at-rest position. A travel limiter may also be disposed between the first and second handles for restricting the positioning of the first cutter relative to the second cutter and the closure of the handles relative to each other.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved J-channel siding tool of relatively simple and inexpensive design, construction, and operation, which is safe and durable and which fulfills the intended purpose of creating drainage/mating tabs, notches, and miter cuts within J-channel siding without fear of injury to persons and/or damage to property.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a J-channel siding tool which enables a workman to establish a drainage/mating tab, notch, or miter cut within J-channel siding through a one-cut operation by an individual.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a J-channel siding tool of lightweight and durable construction which may be used in either hand by an individual.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a J-channel siding tool which is safe and minimizes the chance of cutting, pinching, or infliction of other bodily harm to an individual during normal use.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a J-channel siding tool which may be utilized with ⅜″, ⅝″, ½″, or ¾ J-channel vinyl or aluminum siding.
It is still another object of the present invention to enhance the cutting speed of J-channel siding for creation of drainage/mating tabs, notches, or miter cuts as compared to either a duckbill or aviation-type of snip.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a J-channel siding tool which is rust resistant.
A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of pivotally interconnected handles which may include non-slip grasping surfaces and/or thumb or finger notches for ease of grasping by an individual.
Another principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a first cutter having a pair of first cutting surfaces and a first traverse cutting surface where the first cutter is mounted on one of the handles.
Still another principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a second cutter having a pair of second cutting surfaces and a recessed second traverse cutting surface where the second cutter is engaged to the other handle.
Still another principal feature of the of the present invention is the recess of the second traverse cutting surface relative to the first traverse cutting surface which enables an individual to selectively determine, in one-cut, whether to create a tab or notch within J-channel siding.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a stop within either the first or second cutters for defining a uniform length of cut for a tab or notch within J-channel siding.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a biasing member disposed between the pair of handles for urging the handles apart and separating the first cutter from the second cutter while in the at-rest position.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a travel limiter disposed between the first and second handles for restricting the closed positioning of the first cutter relative to the second cutter and the closure of the handles relative to each other.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of substantially parallel first cutting surfaces and a first traverse cutting surface which, together, are substantially U-shaped.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of substantially parallel second cutting surfaces and a recessed second traverse cutting surface which, together, are substantially U-shaped.
Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a first cutter which is pivotally engaged to the first handle.
Still
Crane Daniel C.
Helget Gerald E.
Malco Products, Inc.
Rider Bennett Egan & Arundel
LandOfFree
J-channel siding cutter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with J-channel siding cutter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and J-channel siding cutter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436178