Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to cutting apparatus and particularly
apparatus suitable for cutting notches. m e notches formed can ke any
suitable shape including V-shaped, parabolic or semi-circular~
Various punches are knGwn for cutting or forming holes in
paper cand netal. For example, it is known to provide punches suitable
~or forming one, two, t~ree or more holes in paper so that the paper
can be placed on a suitable holder or in a ring binder. Such punches
generally form a small hole that is just large enough to easily insert
a n~tal ring therethrough. m ese punches are not generally suitable
for forn~ng large holes or for formLng notches in the edge o~ a sheet
of paper or other materi~l. Kncwn device~3 f~r punching holes in metal
cans include the per~orator taught by U.S. Pa~ent 2,595,653 issued May
6, 1952 to L.E. Fuller. This known per~orator employs a plunger rod
wi~h a handle at the tcp end and a V-shaped blade at t~e koktom end.
A tongue and eet are provided ~or properly positioning the perforator
at the edge of a can prior to use of the perfo~ator. As with many can
cpeners, the perforator itself must be supported by the top of the oan
when it is ~eing used. Because of the shape and canstructiGn o~ the
nechani6n for h~lding t~e per~orator i~ the correct position, this
Xnown ~evice is guite unsui~able for puncturing a t~in dis~ of
~Rterial such as a container lid.
$~¢q
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U.S. Patent 2,722,737 issued November 8, 1955 to R.A.
Withers teaches the use o~ a can cpener that includes a support
apparatus especially adapted to hold a metal can in the required
position for use of t~e cpener. The support for the oan includes an
elongated upright, a slider to which t~e punching element is connected
and an adjustable support base. The punching element is shaped and
designed to form a pGuring spout in the top of the can. Again,
although this kncwn can cpener may ke suitable for forming an aperture
in the tcp of a can, the support apparatus provided m~kes it
unsuitable for use on a flat piece of material such as a plastic
container lid.
m e use of plastic oontainer lids to cover a drinking cup is
well known and such lids are perhaps found most often in take-out food
establishments. m ey can either be used on top of a paper cup
non~ally contain mg a cold drink or on tcp of a polystyrene or other
plastic cup oontaining a hot drink. Often such plastic lids come with
a hole partially or completel~ formed in the tcp thereof for the use
of a straw. When the hole is partially formed in the lid, it is
possible to open the aperture fully by breaking the ren~ining material
which connects ~he small disk cver the cpening with the rest of the
lid. A problen with these known openings in plastic lids is that the~
are unsuitable for drinking the liquid directly ~rcm the cup without
the use of a straw. Because these openings are normally n~t formed at
the edge of the l;d, it is almost impossible to drink from such
openings and, in order to drink the liquid, it is generally necessary
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to rem~ve the lid. How~ver if the lid is rem3ved, the danger of
spilling the liquid is greatly increased.
If kncwn cutters or punches are used for formi~g a dri~king
opening in the edge of a container lid, problems may be encountered.
For example, most container lids are form~d with a rim so that th~y
can be detachably connected to the container or ~up. Since it is not
a flat ed~e of rnaterial that mu~t be cut, it may be difficult to
insert the container lid in known punches for formation of the
c~ening. Also, as indicated above, the apertures formed by m~y of
the kncwn punches are normally quite small and it might be necessary
to use such a punch a numker of times in order to make the opening in
the lid large enough for drinking. Such a process w~uld be awkward
and time consumlng and w~uld not guarante the formation of a suitable
opening. Also nany known punches would not have suitable means for
properly aligning the lid for the cutting qperation. One reason for
this deficiency in the known punches is t~at in the past such punches
havé normally been used for ~onming a hole~ at some location spaced
from the edge of t~e material. However in the case of an cpening
which is to be used for drinking, the opening must be formed at the
very edge of the lid; in cther w~rds, the e~ge o~ t~e l;d ~ust ~e
notched.
Accordingly, the cutting apparatus of the present invention
provides a mechanism suitable for cutting an aperture or nct~h in a
container lid. The preferred apparatus disclosed herein is
inexpe~sive to construct and easy to use.
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According to the invention, a punching and cutting a~paratus
for piercing and cutting a drinking aperture in a thin, disc-like,
plastic container lid having a hollcw upstanding rim edge defining an
edge groove comprises: a cutting head having a blade with a piercing
point and cutting edges sloping upwardly from said point; means for
holding a container lid in positicn for cutting by said blade, said
holding means having an opening adapted to r~ceive at least a lcw~r
part of said blade and stop means for engaging the edge of said
container lid and t~ereby holding said lid at a proper ~osition for
cutt mg said aperture at the edge of the lid with said blade; an~
means for mDvably connecting said cutting head to said holding means
wherein said blade can be driven into said opening to cut said
container lid and form the drinking aperture at the edge of said lid.
` In one preferred embcdiment, the blade is generally V-shaped
and is adapted to cut a V-shaped notch in the edge o the container
lid. Hcwever the blade could also have a parabolic or curved shape.
~t least the top of the opening i~ formecl by metal plate and is sized
and shaped so that there is a close fit between tlle edge of the plate
defining the opening and the blade.
In the disclosed preferred embodiment, the connecting means
co~sist of a mechanism for pivoting the cutting head relative to the
holding means and this mechanism includes a pivc,t pin.
Further features and advantages will become apparent fran
the ~ollowing detailed description of preferred e~bodIments, which
description is to be read in conjunction with t~e acca~panying
drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a front end view of one embodiment of a cutting
apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a ~ectional elevation taken along the line II-II
shcwn in Figure 1, with the coil spring ~eing anitted for sake of
clarity;
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Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cutting apparatus with a
container lid positioned on the apparatus for cutting;
Figure 4 is a detailed view shcwing the front portion of the
apparatus of Figure 3 after the cutting head has been lowered to cut
the aperture in the lid;
Figure 5 is a top view of a rimmed container lid showing a
notch cut in the edge of the lid;
Figure 6 is a side view of another ernbodiment of a cutting
apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the blade used on the
apparatus of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a detailed view showing the shape of the plate
used to form the top of the opening in the apparatus of Figure 6; and
Figure 9 is a right hand end view of the cutting apparatus
of Figure 6.
The cutting apparatus 10 shawn in Figures 1 to 4 is suitable
for cutting an aperture in a container lid 12. The type of aperture
or notch that can be cut in the edge of ~he lia is shcwn in Figure 5.
The aperture 14 is V-shaped and extends ir~ardly from the edge 16 of
the lid. The lid 12 that ~s shown is one designed for use on a paper
or plastic cup and it is formed with a rim 18. A lip 20 may also
protrude up from the edge of the lid. m e use of the rim 18 and the
lip 20 on such lids can make them difficult to cut or notch with
previously known cutter~ and punches. Normally such lids are made
from a sheet of thin plastic.
The illustrated apparatus 10 includes a cutting head 22
having a blade 24 with a piercing point 26. The blade is ormed
~36~9.~
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with two cutting edges 28 which sloFe upwardly and rearwardly frcm the
point 26. Ihe blade 24, which is preferably made of steel, is an
integral part of an elongated metal member 30 in this emkcdiment.
Except at its two ends, the me~ber 30 is channel-shaped and has two
downwardly extending sides 32. Fastened to the top of the metal
m~mber 30 is a plastic plate 34. The plate 34 pxovides a smooth
attractive top and it can be made wider t~an the member 30 as s~cwn in
Figure 1. The metal m~mber 30 with its blade 24 and the plastic plate
34 together form an elongated tc~ member which is also referred to as
he cuttin~ head in this application. At the end of the cutting head
opposite the blade 24 are tw~ dcwnwardly extending connecting brackets
36 which form part of t~e means for m~vably connecting the autting
head to a bottom member or base 40.
The ~ottom me~ber 40 provides means for holding the
container lid 12 in position for cutting by the blade. me bottom
me~ker has an cpem ng 42 adapted to receive at least a lower part of
the blade 24 includin~ all of the cutting edge of the blade. In the
e~bodiment o~ Figures 1 to 4, the b~ttom ~ber 40 ccmprises a w~oden
or plastic main member 44 and a metal plate member ~6. The n~bers 44
and 46 can be ~oined together in any well kncwn manner such as with
glue or with screws (not shown3. Except for the tw~ ends, the pla-te
m~mber 46 is ~hannel-shaped as can be seen from Figure 1. Thus the
member 46 has two upwardly extending sides 48. These sides A8
terminate at 50, a p~int in line with the inner- most extremity of the
25 opening 42. The ends of the sides 48 located at the point 50 form
means for stcpping the lid 12 so that the lid is properly located o~er
the opening 42 and keneath the cutting head fc~ cutting the aperture
in the edge o~ the lid. ~hese ends provide stops disposed on cpposite
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sides of the opening. The end portion of the me~ber 46 in the region
of the cpening 42 is flat and this portion forms a lid supporting
surface 52 in the region of the cpening. Thus the lid 12 is supported
at a location which permits the blade to be driven cc~,pletely through
the lid to form the desire~ aperture or notch. Ihe 1at surface 52
conform~ to the flat surface of the lid 12 and ~herefore helps to
prevent te~ring of the lid as it is being cut by the blade 24. If a
proper support ~or the lid is not provided, the cut in the ~hin lid
material could have a rough or uneven edge. Because the cutting edges
28 of t~e blade slope upwardly and rearwardly, the~ tend to push the
lid i~wardly or rearwardly. Hcwever such m~vement is prevented by the
stop means and therefore the lid can be ~ut readily and easily without
requiring any undue effort to hold the lid in the necessary position
for cutting.
~he end of the plate me~ber 46 located opposite the
supporting surface 52 has two upstanding brackets 54 which are
extensions o the sides 48. The brackets 54 also ~orm part of the
means for movably connecting the cutting head to the bottom member 40.
B~th the brackets 54 and the brackets 36 are formed wi~h cpenings to
receive a pi~ot pin 56. m e pin 56 can be in the f~rm of a suitable
rivet or a bolt with a nut ~astened at one end.
As can be seen fro~ Figure 2, the tcp of the opening 42 is
form~d by the metal plate me~ber 46. Ihe cpening in the plate me~ber
has generally the same shape as ~hat ~hown in Figure 8, which figure
shows the metal plate used m the second eTbodiment shown in Figure 6.
In other words the opening is generally triangular and it i5 sized and
shaped so that there is a close fit between the edge of ~he plate
defining ~he opening and the blade 24. In ~his way ~he lid 12 will be
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g
supported as much as possible from belcw ~hen being cut by the
dcwnwardly m~ving blade 24. In the preferred embodiment there is a
sheering action between the metal edge forming the opening 42 and the
blade during the cutting process. This action results in the
ormation of a cleanly cut aperture or notch 14.
In the preferred embodimY~t means are provided ~or biasing
the cutting head 22 away from the opening 42. The illustrated biasing
means comprises a coil spring 58 which is inserted between the cutting
head and the bottom member 40. In order to hold the spring in an
upri~ht position, upper and lower pin retainers 60 and 62 are
provided. The retainer 60 is firmly attached to the bottcm of the
plate member 30 while the pin retainer 62 is firmly attached to the
top of the plate member 46 between the sides 48. The diameter of each
of t~ese retainers are slightly smaller than the diameter of the coil
spring. These retainers can be rivetad to tha adjoining plates or
attached by screw connections. If desired, and in order to preven~
the spring 58 from being dislocated from the cup m~mbers, the brackets
36 can be provided with a lower oorner 64 whic~ comes into contact
with the plate member 46 when the cutting head ~2 is raised to the
position shcwn in Figure 2. l~us further clockwise rotation of the
cutting head relative to the bottom me~ber 40 is prevented by the
~ngagemant of the corners 64. It will be appreciated that a variety
of other stop machani ms could also be provided. Alternatively, the
bottom and the top of the coil spring oould be firmly attached to the
~5 plate member ~6 and the member 30 respectively and this would prevent
an excessive clockwis~ rotation of the cutting head relative to the
bottom ~e~ber.
O~her forms of biasing means can of c~urse be used. A leaf
spring arrangement could be used. A single turn, round
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wlre type spring w~uld also be satisfactory. Air balloon type or soft
rubber ball type springs could be used if desired.
A second embodiment of the cutting apparatus is shown in
Figures 6 to 9 and, except as described hereinafter, this embodim. nt
is constructed substantiall~ in the same manner as ~he first cuttin~
aeparatus 10. The second embodir.nt 70 has an elongated top me~ber 72
~hich is constructed entirely frcm a suitable plastics material except
for the blade 74 which is sh~wn separately in Figure 7. lhe blade 74
can be constructed frcm a single piece of bent steel and like the
blade 24 it is V-shaped as seen from the top or the bottom. To
provide mRans for connecting the blade 74 to the rest of the tcp
member, the blade is formed with horizontal sections 76 provided with
.. holes 78. The holes 78 will accommodate scr~ws ~or attachin~ the
steel blade to t~e elongated plastic me~ber 72. It will be
aypreciated that, with this construction, ~he blade 74 can be replaced
from time to time if it becomes dull or ~ ~aged. The me~ber 72 also
has two dow~wardly extending brackets 80,-each with a hole therein for
receipt of a pivot pin 82.
A bottom member 84 is also made entirely of plastic except
for the small, flat steel plate 86 in the vicinity of the opening
whi~h receives t~e blade 74. ~he plate 86 is ~rovided with a hole 88
at each of its four corners for receipt o~ a screw. Thus ~he plate 86
can be attached to the bottom me~ber 84 by means o~ screws (not
shown1. The en~ of the b~ttom me~ber 84 opposite the plate 86 is
provided with tw~ upst~nding brackets 89, each of which has a h3le for
passage of the pin 82.
In place of the stops provided by ~he ends of ~he walls 44
- in the first embodiment, the second embodin~nt 70 i5 pnovided wit~ a
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protruberance 90 which is integral wit~ the bottom m~mber 84. The
p~otruberance 90 is located ju~t behind the plate me~ber 86. When the
eaga of the lid 12 is pushed against this protr~berance, it is in the
correct p~sition for cutting a notch 14 in the lid.
Instead of a coil spring to bias the tcp member ana blade
away ~rom the cpening, the second embodiment is provided with a wire
spxing 92 h~ving a single loop 94 t~rough which ~he pivot pin 82
extends. This wire spring has an upper end 96 that extends through a
retaining bracket 98 and a lcwer end 100 that extends through another
retaining bracket 102. The brackets Joosely e~brace the spring ends
to prevent ~hem from slipping out from between the cutting head and
the b~ttom m ~ber 84.
It will be appreciated that other mechanisms for mDvably
o~nne~ting the cutting head to the bottom me~ber could be provided.
For example, the cutting head and the bottam me~ber could ke fashioned
fram a single pie oe of suitable plastic. The plastics m~terial used
would have a thick cross-section for mDst of the leng~h of ~he cutting
head and bottam m~ber but it would have a t~in flexible and resilient
cross-section ~here the cutting head and the b~ttom me~ber join. As
in the embodinent of Figures 6 to 9 the blade itself and a flat plate
m the vicinity of ~he cpening in the bottom menber wDuld still be
n~de of a metal such as steel.
It will ~e appare~t to those skilled in the art t~at various
~difications can be ~ade to the descriked cutting aFparatus without
departing fnom t~e spirit and scope of this invention. For example,
the blade could have a shape different fm m that shcwn in the
drawings. The blade could have a semi-circular ~hape ~hen viewed frcm
the tcp rather than a V-shape. A spring or other d~vice ~or biasing
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the cutting head away from the opening could be omitted entirely frcm
the apparatus because ~he cutting head oould be lifted manually ~o the
positic~ shcwn in Figures 2 and 3 prior to inserticn of a lid for
cutting. Also the present apparatus could be co~structed entirely o~
metal if desired.
