Cutlery – Cutting tools – Saw
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-19
2003-06-17
Watts, Douglas D. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Cutting tools
Saw
C030S392000, C030S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06578268
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvement in and relating to a tool.
In particular, the tool is a cutting tool. A portion of the cutting edge of the blade of the tool is presented for cutting only when a portion of the frame of the tool is displaced on contact with an object to be cut, such that only sufficient blade as required is exposed. When the cutting action has been completed, the guide or frame of the tool returns to a position whereby the cutting edge of the blade is no longer exposed.
It is envisaged the tool will have the most practical use for precise woodworking procedures in the form of an improved hacksaw tool, and so forth.
However, the invention may have applications outside this field.
BACKGROUND ART
A number of cutting tools, in the form of saws are available in the prior art. In a typical hacksaw or keyhole saw the-frame runs substantially parallel to the line of a narrow blade. Typically, the blade of such tools is replaced as the teeth of the blade become blunt through use, or the blade is broken. The keyhole saw is particularly useful for fret work, hobby or craft work where precise cuts are required. The bigger version of such a tool (being the standard hacksaw) is more bulky, but is typically used for a range of cutting procedures.
The advantage of a hacksaw or a keyhole saw is that the blade is replaceable when it becomes blunt or broken. This is an advantage over saws with fixed blades that when blunt require sharpening, or if they get bent or structurally damaged, the saw typically has to be thrown away.
Whilst the advantage of the hacksaw is its versatility, and the ability to replace the blades, it is nevertheless a cumbersome tool. Typically the frame supporting the blade can get in the way. Further, the whole blade is exposed generally, and in use is fully available for use in cutting. However, it becomes correspondingly easier to cut too deeply into a surface where fine control may be required or the cut may be wider than required. The same or similar problems are inherent in any tool, including awls or drills, where the depth of a hole being punched/drilled and such like can be difficult to control.
Therefore, it would be an advantage to have a tool that:
a) incorporated a replaceable portion such as a blade or an awl-like portion and so forth depending on the tool, and
b) had the added feature of a guard which covered the cutting edge of the blade or the sharp end of the awl and so forth until the tool is used, and
c) the guard only exposed so much of the blade/awl as required for a particular function thereby enabling greater control of the cutting action, minimising the likelihood of the cut/hole made being too deep (or where relevant, too wide); and
d) the guard would not encroach on the work area and hinder the action of the saw/awl and so forth when in use; and
e) the tool would be easy to use, easy to repair and easy to replace blades/tool shafts and so forth.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool, the tool including a body capable of supporting a blade portion, the body also capable of receiving one end of a substantially elongate protecting apparatus, the protecting apparatus being adapted at its forward distal end to contact a portion of the surface to be cut by the blade portion, the protecting apparatus also including alignment means to maintain alignment of the blade portion relative to the surface being cut, the tool also including resilience means to facilitate displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the blade portion when in use, and the body also including a handle.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool substantially as described above wherein displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the blade portion is effected in conjunction with resilience means via forward pressure applied to the tool by the user resulting in the abutting means contacting a surface to be cut being pushed rearwardly to expose the cutting edge of the blade portion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool substantially as described above wherein the resilience means is attached at one end to a portion of the body, and at the other end towards the rearward end of the protecting apparatus.
Accordingly to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool substantially as described above wherein the blade portion includes any one of a standard saw blade and an awl capable of being used with the tool and replaced when damaged or worn, said saw blade including at least one of a hacksaw blade, drag saw blade, or cross-cut saw blade.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool substantially as described above wherein the protecting apparatus includes gauging apparatus capable of being pre-set prior to use of the tool to ensure the cut effected by the blade portion does not exceed that required.
The term blade portion shall mean, but is not limited to any portion of a tool capable of effecting the required change in a surface with which the tool is used. For example, the blade portion may be a saw blade to effect a cut, or an awl shaft or drill bit to effect a hole, and so forth. However, the blade portion may also be or include a measurement scale, and so forth.
For ease of reference one embodiment of the tool in the form of a cutting tool incorporating a saw blade, shall now be described. However, it should be appreciated that reference to a cutting tool or a saw blade is not intended to limit this specification. Accordingly, the description may be generally applicable to a hole-punch tool where the blade portion is an awl, or any other such tool to which the features of this invention may be applied.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention the handle portion of the body is displaced at one distal end of the tool and is oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of orientation of the blade portion and the protecting apparatus. Preferably the handle is moulded to enable it to be comfortably gripped within the user's palm. Preferably, the contoured handle portion can be adapted so that it can be gripped comfortably by both left-handed and/or right-handed people.
Anterior to the handle the main portion of the body is configured to receive the protecting apparatus, the resilience means and the blade portion. There is also provision to receive a cover plate that can be removed as required to repair to and/or replacement of the resilience means and/or the blade portion and/or the protecting apparatus when these become broken or worn. Alternatively, the handle portion may pivot open to enable access to its interior to enable repair to and/or replacement of the resilience means and/or the blade portion and/or the protecting apparatus as required.
A transverse groove is preferably cut into the interior face of the main upper body portion to enable the substantially elongate protecting apparatus to slide within the groove in a substantially horizontal plane.
The groove preferably transverses the width of the body to ensure unhindered sliding movement of the protecting apparatus. Above the slide groove is located attachment points to which one end of resilience means, such as a spring, is capable of being attached. An attached resilience means, such as a spring or any other suitable resilience means, is thus configured to preferably lie in a substantially parallel plane to the plane of alignment of the protecting apparatus. Although any suitable attachment site for one end of the resilience mans, may be utilised as required.
Whilst one end of the resilience means (spring) is attached to the body, the opposite distal end of the spring is
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Watts Douglas D.
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