Cutlery – Cutting tools – Plural cooperating blades
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-04
2002-08-20
Watts, Douglas D. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Cutting tools
Plural cooperating blades
C030S192000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06434834
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a lopping apparatus, and more particularly to a lopping apparatus which has handle compartments for stowing its blades during periods of non-use.
Numerous lopping devices have heretofore been designed for pruning branches from plants such as trees, shrubs, and bushes. One such lopping device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,599 issued to Plum. In particular, Plum discloses a device
10
that includes a pair of steel blade
12
which are interconnected by a pivotal connection
14
. The device
10
further includes a pair of wooden handles
16
which are respectively attached to the steel blades
12
by an attachment mechanism
16
. During operation, the handles
16
are moved relative to each other which, in turn, causes a corresponding movement of the steel blades
12
relative to each other. After the operation is complete, the handles
16
are moved toward each other to their fullest extent thereby causing the blades
12
to close to their fullest extent. The device
10
is then stowed in this closed configuration during periods of non-use typically in a storage area such as a garage or utility shed.
Space is generally at a premium in storage areas such as garages and utility sheds. As a result, it would be desirable to decrease the amount of space occupied by implements and tools such as lopping devices which are stowed away in these storage areas. Moreover, it is desirable to provide an extra degree of safety to implements and tools such as lopping devices while such devices are stowed away in storage areas. It is further desirable to provide a lopping apparatus which is extremely durable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lopping apparatus which includes a first handle having a first blade storage compartment. The lopping apparatus further includes a first blade member connected to the first handle, the first blade member having a first cutting portion. The lopping apparatus additionally includes a second handle having a second blade storage compartment. Moreover, the lopping apparatus includes a second blade member connected to the second handle, the second blade member having a second cutting portion. The lopping apparatus additionally includes a first connecting link pivotally coupled to both (i) the first handle at a first pivot location which defines a first pivot axis, and (ii) the second handle at a second pivot location which defines a second pivot axis. The first pivot axis and the second pivot axis define a line L. The lopping apparatus is positionable in a lopping mode of operation and a storage mode of operation. When the lopping apparatus is positioned in the lopping mode of operation, (i) the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion are both positioned on a first side of the line L, and (ii) the first blade storage compartment and the second blade storage compartment are both positioned on a second side of the line L. When the lopping apparatus is positioned in the storage mode of operation, (i) the first cutting portion and the second cutting portion are both positioned on the first side of the line L, (ii) the first blade storage compartment and the second blade storage compartment are both positioned on the first side of the line L, (iii) at least a portion of the first blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment, and (iv) at least a portion of the second blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating and stowing a lopping apparatus which includes (i) a first handle having a first blade storage compartment, (ii) a first blade member connected to the first handle, (iii) a second handle having a second blade storage compartment, and (iv) a second blade member connected to the second handle. The method includes the step of operating the lopping apparatus for a first period of time so that the first blade member and the second blade are manipulated to contact a plant in a manner such that a limb of the plant is sheared off. The method further includes the step of manipulating the first handle, the second handle, the first blade member, and the second blade member so that the lopping apparatus is positioned in a storage configuration, wherein when the lopping apparatus is positioned in the storage configuration, (i) at least a portion of the first blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment, and (ii) at least a portion of the second blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment. Moreover, the method includes the step of stowing the lopping apparatus for a second period of time while the lopping apparatus is positioned in the storage configuration.
Yet according to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lopping apparatus which includes a first handle having a first blade storage compartment. The lopping apparatus further includes a first blade member connected to the first handle, the first blade member having a first cutting portion. The lopping apparatus also includes a second handle having a second blade storage compartment. Moreover, the lopping apparatus includes a second blade member connected to the second handle, the second blade member having a second cutting portion. The lopping apparatus is positionable in a lopping mode of operation and a storage mode of operation. The first cutting portion and the second cutting portion are each spaced apart from both the first blade storage compartment and the second blade storage compartment when the lopping apparatus is positioned in the lopping mode of operation. When the lopping apparatus is positioned in the storage mode of operation, (i) at least a portion of the first blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment, and (ii) at least a portion of the second blade member is positioned in either the first blade storage compartment or the second blade storage compartment.
One object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful lopping apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved lopping apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful method of operating and stowing a lopping apparatus.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of operating and stowing a lopping apparatus.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lopping apparatus which occupies less space when stowed away in a storage area relative to other lopping apparatus having comparable pruning abilities.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lopping apparatus having an extra degree of safety while it is stowed away in a storage area.
It is further desirable to provide a lopping apparatus which is extremely durable.
Other objects and benefits of the present invention can be discerned from the following description and accompanying drawings.
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patent: 447185 (1891-02-01), Hollweg
patent: 476459 (1892-06-01), Hamann et al.
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patent: 694829 (1902-03-01), Candlish
patent: 1105191 (1914-07-01), Flora et al.
patent: 1168125 (1916-01-01), Stowell
patent: 1502191 (1924-07-01), Helwig
patent: 3230756 (1966-01-01), Pearson
patent: 3882599 (1975-05-01), Plum
patent: 4547965 (1985-10-01), Moore
patent: 4669140 (1987-06-01), Miceli
patent: D368634 (1996-04-01), Frazer
patent: 5809599 (1998-09-01), Frazer
patent: 5963999 (1999-10-01), Gardiner et al.
DiMatteo Mark W.
Oyler Thomas C.
Gilmour, Inc.
Maginot, Moore & Bowman LLP
Watts Douglas D.
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