Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BAG CUTTER AND PIERCER
Field of the Invention
[0001] The field of the invention is bag cutters.
Background
[0002] The following background discussion includes information that may be
useful in
understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the
information provided
herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that
any publication
specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Employment of sealed bags for housing various products is a well-
accepted packaging
approach. While such bags are highly desirable for their efficiency in
maintaining product
integrity, access into the contents of such bags is often inconvenient, and
contents often spill due
to messy cuts and tears.
100041 Various bag cutters are available that attempt to overcome some of the
problems
described above. Such cutters include the devices described in International
Patent Application
Publication No. 2008/086101, United States Patent Publication No.
2005/0102844, and United
States Patent Nos, 7073264, 6658742, 4887355, and 5007171.
[0005] Existing bag cutters are not as versatile, durable, or safe as could be
desired. Thus, there
is still a need for improved cutting devices.
Summary of The Invention
[0006] The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods
for opening
various objects, especially plastic bags, using a cutting device having a
blade, a cutout, and a
piercer. Devices of the inventive subject matter provide safe, durable, or
versatile cutters for a
wide range of uses.
[0007] Some preferred bag cutters have two arms, which can advantageously be
injection
molded as a single, continuous piece of plastic. Alternatively, the arms can
be two discontinuous
pieces of material coupled to a pivot. Some contemplated bag cutters comprise
a single arm that
comprises all components of the device (e.g., embodiments without an anvil).
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[0008] In some embodiments having two arms, it is contemplated that one arm
partially
encloses a blade, and another arm comprises a cutting surface juxtaposable
against an edge of
the blade.
[0009] Contemplated arms have a cutout that partially encloses a blade.
Preferably, a piercer,
extending from the cutout or any other portion of the cutter, is configured to
pierce a bag or
other object. Piercers can be used in conjunction with a blade to create a
cut, or be used
independent of a blade simply to pierce a bag. Piercing a bag can be useful
where sealed bags
are taken to high elevation locations (to keep them from exploding and
creating a mess),
where a user wishes to de-puff bags without opening them (e.g., for shipping
purposes), and
so forth. A piercer can be made of the same piece of material as an arm, or
comprise a
separate piece of material coupled with the arm.
[0010] Bag cutters can have one, two, or even more blades, cutouts, piercers,
and cutting
surfaces (e.g., anvils, raised portions, or any other surface that could be
used in conjunction
with an edge of a blade to create a cut). Unless the context dictates the
contrary, all ranges set
forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and
open-ended
ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values.
Similarly, all lists of
values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the
context indicates
the contrary.
100111 Contemplated devices could typically be used in at least two of the
following ways:
(1) placing a bag between a cutting surface and a blade and squeezing the arms
while sliding
across the bag; (2) piercing a bag by sliding the piercer through a portion of
the bag; (3)
sliding a bag through a cutout exposing a blade, or (4) a combination thereof.
[0011a1 In one aspect, there is provided a cutting and piercing apparatus
comprising: a first
arm having a first side and a second side that define a thickness of the first
arm; a second arm
operable in conjunction with the first arm and having a first side and a
second side that define
a thickness of the second arm; a first blade comprising an edge, wherein the
edge has a first
end, a second end and a central portion; wherein at least one of the first arm
and the second
arm partially encloses the first blade at the first end and the second end in
a manner that
exposes the central portion of the edge of the first blade, and wherein
portions of the at least
one of the first arm and the second arm partially enclosing the first end and
the second end
project beyond the central portion; wherein at least one of the first arm and
the second arm
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comprises a cutting surface that is juxtaposable against the central portion
of the edge of the
first blade; and wherein the first arm comprises: a first cutout at least
partially enclosing a
second blade disposed between the first and second sides that define the
thickness of the first
arm; and a piercer configured to pierce a workpiece, and disposed at a
periphery of the first
arm.
[0011b] In another aspect, there is provided a cutting and piercing apparatus
comprising: a
first arm and a second arm; wherein the first arm comprises: a first side and
a second side; a
first cutout at least partially exposing a first edge of a first blade
disposed between the first
and second sides; and a piercer; wherein at least one of the first arm and the
second arm
comprises a cutting surface; and wherein at least one of the first arm and the
second arm
comprises a second blade partially embedded therein; and wherein the second
blade
comprises an edge having an embedded first end, an embedded second end and an
exposed
central portion, wherein portions of the at least one of the first arm and the
second arm
embedding the first end and the second end project beyond the central portion,
and wherein
the central portion is juxtaposable with the cutting surface.
[0011c1 In another aspect, there is provided a cutting apparatus comprising: a
first arm and
an opposable second arm; a first blade comprising a cutting edge, wherein the
cutting edge
has a first end, a second end and a central portion; wherein the first arm
comprises or is
coupled to a blade enclosing material that partially encloses the first blade
at the first end and
the second end in a manner that leaves the central portion unenclosed; wherein
the opposable
second arm comprises or is coupled to a raised portion made at least in part
of a first material;
wherein the raised portion at least partially encloses an anvil made at least
in part of a second
material different from the first material; wherein at least a first segment
of the unenclosed
central portion is sized and dimensioned to physically contact at least a
portion of at least one
of the raised portion and the anvil; a second blade that is partially embedded
in and extends
entirely within a thickness of the first arm in a manner that exposes at least
a portion of the
second blade at a cutout; and wherein the first blade is orthogonal to the
second blade.
[0011d] In another aspect, there is provided a cutting apparatus comprising: a
first arm and
an opposable second arm; a first blade comprising a cutting edge, wherein the
cutting edge
has a first end, a second end and a central portion; wherein the first arm
comprises or is
coupled to a blade enclosing material that partially encloses the first blade
at the first end and
the second end in a manner that leaves the central portion unenclosed; wherein
the opposable
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second arm comprises or is coupled to a raised portion made at least in part
of a first material;
wherein the raised portion at least partially encloses an anvil made at least
in part of a second
material different from the first material; wherein at least a first segment
of the unenclosed
central portion and at least a portion of at least one of the raised portion
and the anvil are
onfigured to cooperate with one another to create a cut; a second blade that
is partially
embedded in and extends entirely within a thickness of the first arm in a
manner that exposes
at least a portion of the second blade at a cutout; and wherein the first
blade is orthogonal to
the second blade.
[0011e] In another aspect, there is provided cutting apparatus comprising: a
first arm and an
opposable second arm; a first blade comprising a cutting edge, wherein the
cutting edge has a
first end, a second end and a central portion; wherein the first arm comprises
or is coupled to
a blade enclosing material that partially encloses the first blade at the
first end and the second
end in a manner that leaves the central portion unenclosed; wherein the
opposable second arm
comprises or is coupled to a raised portion; wherein at least a first segment
of the unenclosed
central portion is sized and dimensioned to physically contact at least a
portion of the raised
portion; wherein the first arm includes: a first cutout at least partially
enclosing a second
blade, wherein the second blade is disposed between first and second sides
that define a
thickness of the first arm; and a first piercer configured to pierce a
workpiece, and disposed at
a periphery of the first arm; and wherein the first blade is orthogonal to the
second blade.
[0011f] In another aspect, there is provided a cutting apparatus having an
open conformation
and a closed conformation, comprising: a first arm having a first inner
surface and an
opposable second arm having a second inner surface opposite the first inner
surface; a first
blade partially embedded in and extending from a first recess in the first
arm; a cutting
surface extending from the second arm; wherein at least a portion of the first
blade is sized
and dimensioned to physically contact at least a portion of the cutting
surface; and a piercer
having a blunted tip extending outward from the second inner surface, and
toward the first
inner surface; wherein the cutting surface comprises (i) a raised portion at
least partially
enclosing an anvil and (ii) an exposed portion of the anvil extending from the
raised portion,
wherein the exposed portion of the anvil is curved.
10011g] In another aspect, there is provided an improved cutting apparatus
having a first
blade partially embedded in and extending from an upper arm of the apparatus,
a raised anvil
extending from a lower arm of the apparatus, and a single blunt finger
extending from one of
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the arms toward the other arm, wherein the upper surface of the anvil is
convex, a first recess
of the upper arm proximal to the first blade is concave, and the anvil and the
first blade mate
when juxtaposed.
[0012] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive
subject matter will
become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments,
along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent
like
components.
Brief Description of The Drawing
[0013] Fig. 1 is a top view of an arm of an open bag cutter having a piercer.
[0014] Fig. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of a bag cutter having a
piercer, a blade, and
an anvil.
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[0015] Fig. 3 is a front view of a different embodiment of a bag cutter.
[0016] Fig. 4 is a side, rear perspective view of yet another embodiment of a
bag cutter.
[0017] Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of another bag cutter.
100181 Fig. 6 is a side, rear perspective view of an embodiment of a bag
cutter having three
blades.
[0019] Fig. 7 is a side, rear perspective view of an embodiment of another bag
cutter having
three blades.
[0020] Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of the bag cutter of Fig. 7.
Detailed Description
[0021] The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the
inventive subject
matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive
elements, the
inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of
the disclosed
elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second
embodiment
comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also
considered to include other
remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
[0022] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention
disclosed herein are
not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and
claimed
individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other
elements found
herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a
group for reasons
of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion
occurs, the
specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus
fulfilling the written
description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
[0023] Figure 1 shows a bag cutter having a piercer and two cutouts sharing a
blade. Cutting
and piercing apparatus 100 comprises a first arm 110 having first and second
cutouts (120 and
130, respectively) that share first blade 140. First blade 140 is partially
embedded between a first
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and second side (170 and 180, respectively) of arm 110, and is partially
exposed via first cutout
120 and second cutout 130.
100241 As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that
follow, the meaning of
"a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Also,
as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on"
unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise.
100251 Apparatus 100 further comprises a first piercer 150, and second piercer
155 having
piercer tip 160 that composes a periphery of first arm 110. Piercers 150 and
155 are made of a
single piece of plastic, and attached to second side 180 of first arm 110 such
that there is an
overlap between first cutout 120 and first piercer 150, and between second
cutout 130 and
second piercer 155. This configuration is designed to allow a user to pierce
and cut a work-piece
(e.g., a bag, a sheet, etc.) with one swipe of the hand.
[0026] First and second piercers can comprise a single piece of material (as
shown in Figure 1),
or comprise two or more pieces of material. It is also contemplated that an
apparatus can have
three of more piercers, made of one or more pieces of material. Contemplated
piercer materials
include, among other things, a plastic, a silicon, a metal, or any combination
thereof.
[0027] Figure 2 shows a bag cutter having a cutout, anvil and piercer.
Apparatus 200 comprises
a first arm 210 having first cutout 230, first blade 240 partially embedded
therein, and second
blade 250. Second arm 220 is continuous with first arm 210 and comprises a
first piercer 260,
and a cutting surface (first anvil 270 or raised portion 280) configured to
juxtapose an edge 251
of second blade 250. First anvil 270 acts as a cutting surface where it
extends through a raised
portion 280. If anvil 270 wears down (or if anvil was completely embedded
within second arm
220), raised portion 280 can become the cutting surface.
[0028] Piercer 260 comprises an obtuse (i.e., blunt) tip for safety and
utility purposes. However,
it is contemplated that piercer could comprise a tip of any suitable size and
shape, including for
example, a needlepoint (could come with a hard cover), a semi-blunt point, a
rounded blunt
point, a flat blunt point, or any other suitable shape.
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100291 Second blade 250 is partially embedded in first arm 210 in a manner
that exposes an edge
of blade 250. Unlike first blade 240, which is disposed between a first and
second side of first
arm 210, second blade 250 extends beyond at least one of the first and second
sides. In other
words, while an edge of first blade 240 is within a thickness 211 of first arm
210, an edge of
second blade 250 sticks out from first arm 210.
100301 It is contemplated that an arm could have multiple and varying
thicknesses. A "side" of
an arm is a surface that comprises one side of all thicknesses thereof. Thus,
a "side" is not always
a flat surface. For example, first arm 210 comprises a first thickness 211,
and a second thickness
212 (among others). The first side (not shown) is substantially flat, while
the second side 213 is
substantially flat up to an edge portion, which comprises many curvatures.
[0031] Each arm can comprise one or more components. For example, a blade
juxtaposable
against a raised portion or anvil can be coupled with (e.g., partially
embedded in) one material of
an arm, such as a hard plastic, that is directly coupled with another material
of an arm, such as a
soft plastic.
[0032] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term
"coupled to" is
intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are
coupled to each other
contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional
element is located
between the two elements). Therefore, the terms "coupled to" and "coupled
with" are used
synonymously.
[0033] Figure 3 shows a bag cutter having a cutout, anvil, and multiple
piercers. Unlike the
apparatus 200 of Figure 2, apparatus 300 comprises an anvil 380 that is
completely embedded in
a raised portion 381 of second arm 320. In such an embodiment, raised portion
381 acts as a
cutting surface at least up to a point where raised portion 381 is worn and
first anvil 380 is
exposed. Where first anvil 380 becomes exposed, it will act as a cutting
surface.
[0034] First arm 310 comprises a second blade 360 partially embedded therein
and exposing a
first edge 370. Second arm 320 comprises a first cutout 330 at least partially
enclosing first blade
340, and having a first piercer 350. Second arm further comprises second
piercer 355 that is
distal from each of the first blade 340 and second blade 360.
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[0035] It is contemplated that any arm can comprise any component of a cutting
apparatus in any
suitable combination. Thus, anvil(s), cutout(s), blade(s), piercer(s), and any
other component can
be located on any arm or arms.
[0036] Figure 4 shows a bag cutter having a pivot, two cutouts, and piercers
extending from the
cutouts. Apparatus 400 comprises a second arm 420 having a blade (not shown),
coupled to first
arm 410 via a pivot (e.g., a coil, a piece of material, a bend, a magnetic
strip, or any other
suitable pivot). First arm 410 comprises first and second cutouts (440 and
450, respectively),
each of which expose an edge of first blade 460. First arm 410 further
comprises first and second
piercers (470 and 480, respectively), which are extensions of edges of first
and second cutouts.
Raised portion 490 is configured to juxtapose an edge of the second arm 420's
blade when first
arm 410 and second arm 420 are squeezed together.
100371 In some other embodiments, first arm is continuous with second arm via
a single piece of
shared material.
100381 A hanger accepter (e.g., tab 491) can be located on any portion of any
arm or pivot and
can be configured to accept a hook or other hanger. It is also contemplated
for a bag cutter to
have various safety features, including, for example, a locking strap, and a
ridge in one or both of
the arms to help prevent a user's fingers from sliding off the arm.
[0039] Figure 5 shows apparatus 500 having first cutout 510 and second cutout
520, each
partially embedding a different blade. First cutout 510 partially embeds and
exposes first blade
515, and second cutout 520 partially embeds and exposes second blade 525. Each
blade, 515 and
525, is disposed between first side 530 and second side 531, such that the
only way to access
either blade is via a cutout.
[0040] Blades can be made of any suitable material, including steel, ceramic,
and plastic, and
can have flat, concave or convex edges. Blades made with one or more non-
optimal materials
can optionally have suitable coatings, including for example TeflonTm or other
friction-reducing
coating, and metal coatings or other corrosion-resistance coatings. Stops can
be included to
control cutting depth. Each blade is preferably embedded in such a way that at
least a portion of
an edge of a blade is exposed at all times.
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[0041] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the inventive subject matter having
three blades, two
cutouts, a cutting surface, and two piercers. Apparatus 600 is a versatile bag
cutter and piercer
that is configured to allow a user to open different types of bags and other
objects. The first arm
610 comprises three different blades, 630, 650, and 660. First blade 630 is
partially embedded in
first arm 610 and configured so that an edge of first blade 630 can juxtapose
cutting surface 680
of second arm 620 when first arm 610 and second arm 620 are squeezed together.
Second blade
650 and third blade 660 are each disposed between a first side and a second
side of first arm 610.
In this embodiment, an edge of second blade 650 is exposed via second cutout
645, and an edge
of third blade 660 is exposed via first cutout 640. In some embodiments, it is
contemplated that a
single blade could comprise two or three edges that can be exposed via two or
three different
cutouts, respectively.
100421 Apparatus 600 further comprises a first piercer 670 and second piercer
675. A piercer can
be used to pierce one side of a bag, so that a bag can be opened on a single
side. In other words, a
strip of the bag does not need to be removed in order to open a bag. Instead,
a user can simply
pierce one side of the bag and create a cut using a cutout and corresponding
blade edge.
100431 Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the inventive subject matter.
Apparatus 700 is
similar to apparatus 600 and comprises three separate blades (710, 720, and
730). First cutout
740 and second cutout 750 expose a portion of second blade 720 and third blade
730,
respectively. In this embodiment, second blade 720 and third blade 730 are
rectangular in shape.
However, it is contemplated that a blade can comprise any suitable size and
shape, including for
example, a trapezoid, or a triangle.
[0044] Apparatus 700 further comprises cutting surface 735, configured to
juxtapose an edge of
first blade 710 when apparatus 700 is squeezed together. Figure 8 is a front
perspective view of
the apparatus of Figure 7.
[0045] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve
as a shorthand
method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the
range. Unless
otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the
specification as if it
were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be
performed in any suitable
order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by
context. The use of
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any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. "such as") provided with
respect to certain
embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and
does not pose a
limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the
specification
should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the
practice of the
invention.
[0046] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more
modifications besides
those already described are possible without departing from the inventive
concepts herein. The
inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
scope of the appended
claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all
terms should be
interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In
particular, the terms
"comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements,
components, or
steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements,
components, or steps
may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or
steps that are not
expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of
something selected
from the group consisting of A, B, C .... and N, the text should be
interpreted as requiring only
one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
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