IP Library Granted Patent US 8,424,435
Granted Patent B2
US 8,424,435 · App. 12/100,932 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Sheet trimmer with indicator to display usable life status of blade or blade opposing member

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,424,435
App. No.
12/100,932
Granted
Apr 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trimmer that is operable to cut at least one sheet of paper includes a base configured to support the at least one sheet, a rail extending across at least a portion of the base, and a cutting assembly having a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage. The trimmer also includes a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail and an indicator operable to display a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member.

Claims (39)

1. A trimmer operable to cut at least one sheet, the trimmer comprising:

a base configured to support the at least one sheet;

a rail extending across at least a portion of the base;

a cutting assembly including a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage;

a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail; and

an indicator that displays a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member;

wherein the cutting assembly includes a housing, and wherein the blade is movable between a first position in which the blade is positioned entirely within the housing, and a second position in which a portion of the blade extends from the housing; and

wherein the indicator is operable to register usage in response to moving the blade to the second position.

2. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is positioned on the cutting assembly.

3. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the blade.

4. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the cutting assembly includes a cartridge detachably coupled to the carriage, and wherein the blade is positioned at least partially within the cartridge.

5. The trimmer of claim 4 , wherein the indicator is positioned on the cartridge.

6. The trimmer of claim 5 , wherein the cartridge includes a window, and wherein at least a portion of the indicator is visible through the window.

7. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the blade is biased to the first position, and wherein the cutting assembly includes an actuator operable to move the blade to the second position.

8. The trimmer of claim 7 , wherein the indicator includes a disc and a gear train coupled between the actuator and the disc, and wherein the usage is registered by actuating the actuator which activates the gear train to rotate the disc.

9. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the blade opposing member is a cutting mat removably coupled to the base, and wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the cutting mat.

10. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the blade opposing member includes a first mat portion and a second mat portion positioned on opposite sides of the blade opposing member, and wherein the blade opposing member is reversible from a first position, in which the blade engages the first mat portion, to a second position, in which the blade engages the second mat portion.

11. The trimmer of claim 10 , wherein the blade opposing member includes a substrate positioned substantially between the first mat portion and the second mat portion to separate the first and second mat portions.

12. The trimmer of claim 1 , wherein the indicator changes from a first condition, indicative of remaining usable life, to a second condition, indicative of recommended replacement.

13. A trimmer operable to cut at least one sheet, the trimmer comprising:

a base configured to support the at least one sheet;

a rail extending across at least a portion of the base;

a cutting assembly including a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage;

a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail; and

an indicator operable to display a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member;

wherein the cutting assembly includes a housing, and wherein the blade is movable between a first position in which the blade is positioned entirely within the housing, and a second position in which a portion of the blade extends from the housing;

wherein the blade is biased to the first position;

wherein the cutting assembly includes an actuator operable to move the blade to the second position;

wherein the indicator includes a disc and a gear train coupled between the actuator and the disc; and

wherein actuating the actuator activates the gear train to rotate the disc.

14. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the indicator is positioned on the cutting assembly.

15. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the blade.

16. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the cutting assembly includes a cartridge detachably coupled to the carriage, and wherein the blade is positioned at least partially within the cartridge.

17. The trimmer of claim 16 , wherein the indicator is positioned on the cartridge.

18. The trimmer of claim 17 , wherein the cartridge includes a window, and wherein at least a portion of the indicator is visible through the window.

19. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the blade opposing member is a cutting mat removably coupled to the base, and wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the cutting mat.

20. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the blade opposing member includes a first mat portion and a second mat portion positioned on opposite sides of the blade opposing member, and wherein the blade opposing member is reversible from a first position, in which the blade engages the first mat portion, to a second position, in which the blade engages the second mat portion.

21. The trimmer of claim 20 , wherein the blade opposing member includes a substrate positioned substantially between the first mat portion and the second mat portion to separate the first and second mat portions.

22. The trimmer of claim 13 , wherein the indicator changes from a first condition, indicative of remaining usable life, to a second condition, indicative of recommended replacement.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 028217/0360 Recorded May 17, 2013
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EXISTING SWING LINE LENDER AND EXISTING L/C ISSUER
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SWING LINE LENDER AND L/C ISSUER
Reel/Frame 030427/0574 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0738. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC, AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028488/0056 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE MISSING ASSIGNEES ON THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 028168 FRAME 0713. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEES ACCO BRANDS USA LLC AND GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION ARE ADDITIONAL ASSIGNEES. Recorded Jul 3, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028487/0671 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2012
From: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 028217/0360 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0713 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2012
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028168/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 30, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 023449/0180 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0784 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 2, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; DAY-TIMERS INC.; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION; ACCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; GBC INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ACCO EUROPE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; ACCO EUROPE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; BOONE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; POLYBLEND CORPORATION; SWINGLINE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 023312/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2009
From: ACCO BRANDS CORPORATION; ACCO BRANDS USA LLC; GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022203/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2008
From: SUDMALIS, ROLAND; PARRISH, MICHAEL; RELLINGER, MICHAEL; KENNEDY, JEFF
To: ACCO BRANDS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 020920/0726 →