Fastener Cutting Device

Abstract

A fastener cutting device comprises a body portion with a top surface and an back surface. The back surface is adapted to allow the device to be mounted to a flat mounting surface. The top surface has a guide extending generally parallel to the top surface above the top surface. The guide has an open end and a fixed end opposite the open end. The guide is spaced from the top surface at a dimension sufficient to accommodate a fastener. The cutting device further comprises a cutter disposed between the guide and the top surface generally adjacent to the guide fixed end. The guide and the top surface are arranged to allow the fastener to be movable therebetween such that the cutter may be brought against the fastener to cut the fastener, either by drawing the fastener against the cutter or by deflecting the guide toward the cutter.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/501,757, filed Jun. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a fastener cutting device that allows retail fasteners (also referred to as tags) to be conveniently removed from an item or good. Goods purchased by consumers typically have a retail fastener or label attached. Often a scissor is used to cut the fasteners off the item. However, when scissors are not readily available, other means are often taken to remove the fasteners. Perhaps, the most common method used is to pull on the fastener until it comes off. This causes several problems. First, by using force to pull the fastener off the item, the fabric can develop holes. Second, the consumer can injure their fingers during the struggle to pull the fastener off. Another common method used to remove a fastener from an item is by trying to hold the fastener between the teeth and pulling on it until it is removed. This method has obvious potential adverse issues, including creating a likely hole in the item. Lastly, due to health related issues, some consumers are not able to use a scissor, so they resort to using one of the above methods to remove a fastener from a purchased good. In recognition of these problems, a compact, surface mounted fastener cutting device would be of great value.

Other cutting devices are known, but they have several drawbacks. Among other issues, these cutting devices are frequently not readily available, and cannot be operated by users who have an inability to utilize their hands. These devices include: (i) scissors; (ii) a hand-held device for cutting non-metallic straps that range in width from ⅜ to ⅝ inch as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,930 to Kojima (1998); (iii) a hand held media cutting device that is designed to cut paper, plastic, metal films and cardboard box as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. US 2006/0236550 A1 to Gullicks, Mueller, Packard, Pearson (2006); and (iv) an opener that the user wears on his/her finger to open paper envelopes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. US 2002/0124417 A1 to De la Cruz. None of these prior art references discloses a device specifically designed and constructed for use in removing fasteners from a variety of goods that is mountable on a flat surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the fastener cutting device.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1 opposite the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1 opposite the view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the fastener cutting device of FIG. 1 opposite the view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a fastener cutting device showing a fastener mounting hole.

FIG. 10 is an alternate embodiment of the fastener cutting device.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the cutting device of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The fastener cutting device 20 comprises a body portion 22 that has a top surface 24 and an opposite back surface 26. The body portion back surface 26 may comprise a recess 28 (FIG. 2) that receives an adhesive 30 so that when the fastener cutting device is mounted to a flat mounting surface, the cutting device back surface is nearly flush to the mounting surface. The back surface 26 is dimensioned with a relatively large area to enable the adhesive 30 to maintain a secure bond with the mounting surface for routine application of the force necessary to cut the fastener. For instance, the body portion 22 may have a length L (FIG. 7) extending in direction parallel to the direction of applied force F (FIG. 7), and a width W (FIG. 7) transverse to the direction of applied force F. A ratio of the length to width (L/W) may be at least three. Additionally, any moment created by force F applied to the device may be reduced by restricting a height H (FIG. 3) of the device. Accordingly, a ratio of the length L to the height H (L/H) may be at least four. Maintaining these ratios facilitates the ability of adhesive to securely mount the cutting device to a mounting surface for routine application of force for cutting a fastener.

The adhesive used to secure the device to a flat surface may be a made of a synthetic rubber resin, or a similar material. The adhesive 30 may remain covered by a peel back paper 32 or release material until the user is ready to mount it onto a surface. Although the drawings show the adhesive as a patch, the adhesive may be generally a liquid or gel applied to the back surface in which case a recess need not be formed in the body portion. Although the drawings (FIGS. 1-9) show the adhesive for mounting the device to a support surface (i.e., wall), the surfaces of the device may be formed with one or more screw hole(s) 34 (FIG. 10) to allow the use of threaded screws inserted through the screw holes to secure the device to a flat mounting surface. Where mounting with mechanical fasteners is desired, the recess shown in FIG. 2 may be omitted. The ratios discussed above need not be necessarily employed when the device is mounted with mechanical fasteners.

The device 20 has a guide 40 extending generally parallel to the top surface 24. The guide 40 has an open end 42 and a fixed end 44 opposite the open end. The fixed end 44 extends to the top surface 24, and may be tapered outwardly to provide structural integrity for the guide. The guide 40 is spaced from the top surface 24 at a dimension sufficient to accommodate a fastener to be cut. The body portion 22 further comprises a cutter 50 disposed between the guide 40 and the top surface 24 generally adjacent to the guide fixed end 44. The cutter 50 has a cutting edge 52 facing the guide open end 42. The guide 40 and the top surface 24 are arranged to allow the fastener to be movable therebetween so that the cutting edge 52 of the cutter 50 may cut the fastener. A removable safety cap may be disposed between the guide and the body portion top surface to prevent inadvertent engagement with the cutter when the device is not in use.

The fastener cutting device may be made of any variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastic, polymers, metal, wood, ceramics and other composites. The cutting device may be one piece or may be fabricated as separate parts and thereafter assembled together. Specifically, the body portion and guide may be of monolithic construction. The body portion, guide, and cutter (e.g., the blade) may be of monolithic construction. The cutter (e.g., the blade) and body portion may also be separate components with the body portion molded around the cutter. The device may be discarded when the cutter (e.g., the blade) is worn, or the blade may be replaceable through a groove (not shown) formed in the body portion. While the drawings show the device as generally oval, the device may be any shape.

Although a blade is shown in the drawings, the cutting device may use a cutter comprising a blade or a wire, and each may be made from a variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, glass, or plastics. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, copper or brass. The cutting edge of the cutter may be a straight edge or it may be beveled, chiseled, serrated, corrugated, scalloped or curved. At least a portion of a cutting edge of the blade may be formed with an acute angle with an underside surface of the guide. At least a portion of the cutting edge of the edge may also be arranged parallel to the guide.

FIGS. 1-9 show an embodiment whereby the user may draw the fastener between an underside of the guide and the body portion top surface and against the cutting edge of the blade to cut the fastener. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the cutting edge of the blade is angled to form an acute angle with the underside of the guide. In FIGS. 10-11, the guide 400 has been enlarged to form a push button. The fastener may be inserted at the open end 420 of the guide 400 under the guide such the fastener is positioned between the blade and the underside of the guide. The guide may then be springably deflected toward the cutting edge 520 of the blade 500 to cut the fastener. The underside of the guide may be provided with a relief groove (not shown) to accommodate the blade as the guide is deflected into the blade. The fixed end 440 of the guide 440 may be arranged to provide sufficient resiliency for the guide as it is repeatedly deflected toward the blade for multiple cutting operations. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10-11, a majority of the cutting edge 520 of the blade 500 is aligned generally parallel with the guide. The embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 10-11 may also be operated to cut a fastener by drawing the fastener against that portion of the cutting edge of the blade which is generally angled to the guide.

In operation, one may mount the fastener cutting device to a flat or support surface. As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9, the user may the hold both ends of the fastener, insert the fastener into the open end of the guide of the device until it reaches the exposed blade, draw the fastener against the blade, and exert a motion against the blade to cut the fastener. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10-11, the user may insert the fastener into the opening of the device under the guide such the fastener is positioned between the blade and the underside of the guide. The user may then press the guide thereby deflecting the guide toward the blade to cut the fastener.

Arrow F shown in FIG. 7 shows the direction of movement of the fastener when placed inside the fastener cutting device. The user draws the fastener perpendicularly against the blade and exerts minimal force downward in the direction of the arrow F to cut the fastener. Alternatively, arrow PF shown in FIG. 11 shows the direction of movement of the guide against the fastener, as the fastener is held stationary between the blade and the underside of the guide and the guide is deflected toward the blade to cut the fastener.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that several advantages are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A fastener cutting device comprising a body portion, the body portion comprising a top surface and an opposite back surface, the back surface having an adhesive for securing the device to a support surface, the back surface being dimensioned to form an area sufficient to enable the adhesive to maintain a bond between the device and the support surface as cutting force is applied by a user to the device to cut a fastener during normal operation of the device, the top surface having a guide extending generally parallel to the top surface above the top surface, the guide having an open end and a fixed end opposite the open end, the guide being spaced from the top surface at a dimension sufficient to accommodate a fastener, the cutting device further comprising a cutter disposed between the guide and the top surface generally adjacent to the guide fixed end, the cutter having a cutting edge facing the guide open end, wherein the guide and the top surface are arranged to allow the fastener to be movable therebetween such that the cutting edge of the cutter may be brought against the fastener to cut the fastener.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the body portion is a monolithic construction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the body portion is made of plastic.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cutter comprises a blade.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the body portion and blade are separate components assembled to form the device.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the cutting edge of the blade is angled.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the cutting edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the guide.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a length extending parallel to the guide and a width transverse to the guide, and a ratio of the length to the width is at least three.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the body portion has a height extending between the guide and back surface, and a ratio of the length to the height is at least four.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide extends along the top surface a distance sufficient to cover the cutting edge of the cutter.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide is adapted to be deflected by a user toward the cutter to cut a fastener disposed between the guide and the cutting edge of the cutter.

12. A fastener cutting device comprising a body portion, the body portion having a top surface and an opposite back surface, the body portion having a through hole adapted to receive a mechanical fastener for mounting the device to a support surface, the top surface having a guide extending generally parallel to and above the top surface, the guide having an open end and a fixed end opposite the open end, the guide being spaced from the top surface at a dimension sufficient to accommodate a fastener, the device further comprising a cutter disposed between the guide and the top surface generally adjacent to the guide fixed end, the cutter having a cutting edge facing the guide open end, wherein the guide and the top surface are arranged to allow the fastener to be movable therebetween such that the cutting edge of the cutter may be brought against the fastener to cut the fastener.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the body portion is a monolithic construction.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the body portion is made of plastic.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the cutter comprises a blade.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the body portion and blade are separate components assembled to form the device.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein a cutting edge of the blade is angled.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the cutting edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the guide.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the guide extends along the top surface a distance sufficient to cover the cutting edge of the cutter.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the guide is adapted to be deflected by a user toward the cutter to cut a fastener disposed between the guide and the cutting edge of the cutter.