INSTRUMENT TRANCHANT TENU D'UNE SEULE MAIN

ONE-HAND OPERATED CUTTING DEVICE

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A cutting device is provided which may be operated
with one hand. The device may be used for cutting open sealed
plastic bags and comprises a frame having a cutting slot for
receiving an article to be cut. A knife member on a slide
which is slidably guided on the frame, extends into the cutting
slot. A thumb-support is provided on the frame, and finger
receiving projections are provided on the slide to enable the
knife to be drawn through the slot by the action of the fingers
and thumb of a single hand.

Revendications

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A one-hand-operated cutting device comprising
a frame provided with a cutting slot for receiving an article to
be cut, a slide slidingly guided on the frame parallel to the
axis of the cutting slot, a knife having a cutting edge extending
obliquely into the slot, a thumb-support plate at one end of the-
frame, and finger-receiving means provided on said slide so as
to enable the slide to be drawn through the cutting slot by the
action of the fingers and thumb of a single hand.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the finger-
receiving means are in the form of lateral projections on the
slide.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the knife is
guided on both sides of the slot.
4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the slide
comprises two separate lateral portions attached together by
coupling means.
5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the coupling
means are screws.

Description

1040408
The invention relates to a one-hand-operated cutting
device.
It is the aim of the invention to provide such a device
which is suitable particularly for opening packaging bags.
With the aid of this device a corner of the bag can be cut off.
This relates particularly to so-called "Tetrapack" (Trademark)
bags in which liquids such as milk or fruit juices for home
consumption are sold.
Accordingly the invention provides a one-hand-operated
cutting device comprising a frame provided with a cutting slot
for receiving an article to be cut, a slide slidingly guided on
the frame parallel to the axis of the cutting slot, a knife
having a cutting edge extending obliquely into the slot, a thumb-
support plate at one end of the frame, and finger-receiving means
provided on said slide so as to enable the slide to be drawn
through the cutting slot by the action of the fingers and thumb
of a single hand.
The invention will now be described in more detail,
by way of example only,with reference to the accompanying drawing
in which:
Figure 1 shows a one-hand-operated cutting device in
lateral view,
Figure 2 shows a section along the line II-II of
Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows a section along the line III-III of
Figure 1 and a front end view of the slide, and
Figure 4 shows the front end view of the device as
seen from the side of the thumb-support plate.
In the drawing, the one-hand-operated cutting device
comprises a frame 1 and slide 2 provided with a knife 3.
The frame 1 has a cutting slot 11 and a thumb-support
plate 12. On the front shown in Figure 1 the frame is provided
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with a spring 13 which guides the slide. The knife 3, the lower ,'
end of which is guided in a groove 14, slides along the substan- !
tially flat rear portion of the frame. A detent, which limits
the movement of the slide 2, is formed by ah edge 15 on one side
and by a lug 16 on the opposite side. In Figure 1 the final
positions of the slide are indicated by thin broken lines.
On the front the frame is reinforced by a rib, which
is forked at the cutting slot.
The slide consists of two parts. These two parts
21,22 are provided with side handles in the form of pegs 23.
The part 22 has a recess for the knife 3. In the part 21 there
is provided a recess 24 having a groove 25, which corresponds to
the profile of the frame 1 and of the spring 13. The two parts
, 21,22 of the slide are connected to each other by means of screws
26.
' The knife has the shape of a razor blade having two
cutting,edges. A so-called floor-layer blade is used. It is
; ' thicker than the usual razor blades used today. Since only half
, the length of a cutting,edge is used for cutting, the blade can
be properly utilized because it can be used four times before
' the two cutting edges are blunt along their entire length.
~' ' In order to illustrate the method of operation of the
device, part of a hand operating the device is shown in thin lines
in Figure 1. The corner, of a sealed plastic bag, for example,
is placed in the cutting slot 11 with the knife 3 in the extreme
left position. The thumb is placed against the support 12 with
the fingers over the pegs 23. The slide is then drawn along the
frame 1 by the action of the fingers and thumb, causing the knife
3 to cut open the corner of the plastic bag.
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