IP Library Granted Patent US 44,057
Granted Patent E1
US 44,057 · App. 12/547,142 · Granted Mar 12, 2013

Locking mechanism for inclination adjustment of a blade of a cutting device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 44,057
App. No.
12/547,142
Granted
Mar 12, 2013
Kind
E1
Abstract

A cutting device includes a base, a swivel seat rotatably mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end, and a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat. A blade is rotatably held by the blade holder. The blade holder is pivotable relative to the swivel seat for cutting when the blade holder is engaged with the second end of the swivel seat. An inclination of the blade relative to the swivel seat is adjustable when the blade holder is disengaged from the second end of the swivel seat. An operative rod is mounted to the first end of the swivel seat and operably connected to the blade holder for controlling releasable engagement between the blade holder and the swivel seat.

Claims (53)

1. A cutting device comprising:

a base;

a swivel seat rotatably mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end;

a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat, with the blade holder adapted to rotatably hold a blade, with the blade holder being pivotable about a first axis relative to the swivel seat for cutting when the blade holder is engaged with the second end of the swivel seat, with the blade holder being pivotable about a second axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat, with the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis;

an operative rod rotatably mounted to the first end of the swivel seat, the operative rod being operably connected to the blade holder for controlling releasable engagement between the blade holder and the swivel seat by the rotation of the operative rod to allow adjustment of the inclination of the blade holder; and

means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base, wherein said means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base comprises a resilient positioning plate including a first end secured to the swivel seat and a second end for manual operation, the resilient positioning plate further comprising a protrusion, the base comprising a plurality of positioning notches, the protrusion of the resilient positioning plate being releasably engaged with one of the positioning notches of the base.

2. The cutting device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an actuating rod mounted to the first end of the swivel seat, the actuating rod comprising a first end outside the first end of the swivel seat for operation and a second end, the actuating rod and the first end of the swivel seat being so arranged that the actuating rod moves along a longitudinal direction thereof between a locking position and an unlocking position, the second end of the actuating rod pressing against the base to thereby prevent relative rotation between the base and the swivel seat when the actuating rod is in the locking position, the second end of the actuating rod being disengaged from the base when the actuating rod is in the unlocking position.

3. The cutting device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the actuating rod comprises a threaded section, the swivel seat comprising a nut securely mounted therein, the nut being threadedly engaged with the threaded section of the actuating rod.

4. The cutting device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising an operative member mounted to the first end of the actuating rod and slidable along the actuating rod between an engaging position and a disengaging position, the operative member comprising a drive gear securely mounted thereon to rotate therewith, the operative rod comprising a driven gear securely mounted thereon to rotate therewith, the drive gear meshing with the driven gear when the operative member is in the engaging position, the drive gear being disengaged from the driven gear when the operative member is in the disengaging position.

5. The cuffing device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the operative member comprises a compartment in a first end thereof, a wall defining the compartment including a positioning groove, the operative member further comprising a hole in a second end thereof, the hole being communicated with the positioning groove, a positioning pin being securely mounted to the first end of the actuating rod, the actuating rod extending through the hole of the operative member with the first end of the actuating rod located in the compartment, the positioning pin being positioned in the positioning groove of the operative member when the operative member is in the disengaging position, the positioning pin being disengaged from the positioning groove of the operative member when the operative member is in the engaging position.

6. The cutting device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the actuating rod is moved between the locking position and the unlocking position when the operative member is in the disengaging position and when the first end of the operative member is turned.

7. The cutting device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the actuating rod comprises a threaded section, the swivel seat comprising a wall having a hole, a nut being securely mounted in the hole of the wall of the swivel seat, the nut being threadedly engaged with the threaded section of the actuating rod.

8. The cutting device as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising means for returning the operative member from the engaging position to the disengaging position.

9. The cutting device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said returning means comprises an elastic element attached between the nut and the second end of the operative member.

10. A cutting device comprising:

a base;

a swivel seat rotatably mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end;

a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat, with the blade bolder adapted to rotatably hold a blade, with the blade holder being pivotable about a first axis relative to the swivel seat for cutting when the blade holder is engaged with the second end of the swivel seat, with the blade holder being pivotable about a second axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat, with the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis; and

an operative rod rotatably mounted to the first end of the swivel seat, the operative rod being operably connected to the blade holder for controlling releasable engagement between the blade holder and the swivel seat by the rotation of the operative rod to allow adjustment of the inclination of the blade holder, with the blade holder being pivotably mounted to the swivel seat by a locking member, wherein the operative rod extends from the first end of the swivel seat through the second end of the swivel seat and through the locking member, the operative rod comprising a first end and a second end that is outside the second end of the swivel seat, a pressing member being securely mounted to the second end of the operative rod to move therewith;

the operative rod and the swivel seat being so arranged that rotation of the operative rod causes longitudinal movement of the operative rod and the pressing member along a longitudinal axis of the operative rod;

wherein the pressing member is moved to a first position pressing the locking member against the second end of the swivel seat when the operative rod is turned in a first direction, thereby preventing adjustment in the inclination angle of the blade; and

wherein the pressing member is moved to a second position not pressing the locking member against the second end of the swivel seat when the operative rod is turned in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby allowing rotational movement of the locking member and the blade holder relative to the swivel seat for proceeding with adjustment in the inclination angle of the blade.

11. The cutting device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first end of the operative rod is outside the first end of the swivel seat, with the cutting device further comprising a turning member mounted to the first end of the operative rod for turning the operative rod.

12. The cutting device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the operative rod comprises a threaded section, the swivel seat comprising a nut securely mounted therein, the nut being threadedly engaged with the threaded section of the operative rod.

13. The cutting device as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising an engaging member having a first end securely mounted to the second end of the swivel seat, an intermediate section, and a second end, the locking member being rotatably mounted around the intermediate section of the engaging member and slidable along a longitudinal direction of the engaging member when the pressing member is in the second position.

14. The cutting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second end of the swivel seat comprises a screw hole and the first end of the engaging member comprises an outer threading for engaging with the screw hole.

15. The cutting device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the second end of the engaging member comprises an outer threading, with the cutting device further comprising a nut engaged with the outer threading of the second end of the engaging member for preventing disengagement of the locking member from the engaging member.

16. A cutting device comprising:

a base;

a swivel seat mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the swivel seat having an engaging section at the second end thereof;

a locking member in releasable engagement with the engaging section;

a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat through the locking member so that the blade holder is pivotable about an axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat;

an operative member at the first end of the swivel seat, the operative member being pushed towards the second end of the swivel seat to mesh a drive gear with a driven gear when locking or unlocking the locking member such that the inclination of the blade can be adjusted; and

means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base comprising a resilient positioning plate including a first end secured to the swivel seat and a second end for manual operation, the resilient positioning plate further comprising a protrusion, the base comprising a plurality of positioning notches, the protrusion of the resilient positioning plate being releasably engaged with one of the positioning notches of the base.

17. A cutting device comprising:

a base;

a swivel seat mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the swivel seat having an engaging section at the second end thereof;

a locking member in releasable engagement with the engaging section;

a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat through the locking member so that the blade holder is pivotable about an axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat;

an operative member at the first end of the swivel seat, a portion of the operative member being positioned closer to the second end of the swivel seat to mesh a drive gear with a driven gear when locking or unlocking the locking member such that the inclination of the blade can be adjusted; and

means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base comprising a resilient positioning plate including a first end secured to the swivel seat and a second end for manual operation, the resilient positioning plate further comprising a protrusion, the base comprising a plurality of positioning notches, the protrusion of the resilient positioning plate being releasably engaged with one of the positioning notches of the base.

18. A cutting device comprising:

a base;

a swivel seat mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the swivel seat having an engaging section at the second end thereof;

a locking member in releasable engagement with the engaging section;

a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat through the locking member so that the blade holder is pivotable about an axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat;

an operative member at the first end of the swivel seat, the operative member operably connected to the blade holder for controlling releaseable engagement between the locking member and the engaging section of the swivel seat, the operative member having a first position and a second position in which at least a portion of the operative member is closer to the swivel seat in the second position than in the first position, the operative member meshing a drive gear with a driven gear in the second position to allow locking or unlocking the locking member such that the inclination of the blade can be adjusted; and

means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base comprising a resilient positioning plate including a first end secured to the swivel seat and a second end for manual operation, the resilient positioning plate further comprising a protrusion, the base comprising a plurality of positioning notches, the protrusion of the resilient positioning plate being releasably engaged with one of the positioning notches of the base.

19. A method for adjusting the inclination angle of a blade holder in a cutting device, wherein the cutting device comprises a swivel seat mounted on the base and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the swivel seat having an engaging section at the second end thereof, a locking member in releasable engagement with the engaging section, a blade holder releasably engaged with the second end of the swivel seat through the locking member so that the blade holder is pivotable about an axis relative to the swivel seat for adjusting an inclination of the blade holder relative to the swivel seat, an operative member at the first end of the swivel seat used when adjusting the inclination angle of the blade holder, the operative member having a first position and a second position in which at least a portion of the operative member is closer to the swivel seat in the second position than in the first position, and means for controlling releasable engagement between the swivel seat and the base comprising a resilient positioning plate including a first end secured to the swivel seat and a second end for manual operation, the resilient positioning plate further comprising a protrusion, the base comprising a plurality of positioning notches, the protrusion of the resilient positioning plate being releasably engaged with one of the positioning notches of the base, the method comprising:

pushing at least a portion of the operative member from the first position to the second position in the direction of the second end of the swivel seat to mesh a drive gear with a driven gear;

adjusting the inclination angle of the blade holder; and

returning the operative member to the first position.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of disengaging the locking member from the engaging section of the swivel seat.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INADVERTENT OMISSION OF THE TABLE LISTING THE PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT FILED 01/18/2013 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029657 FRAME 0824. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT FOR PORTER-CABLE CORPORATION TO BLACK & DECKER INC. Recorded Jan 24, 2013
From: PORTER-CABLE CORPORATION
To: BLACK & DECKER INC.
Reel/Frame 030023/0103 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2013
From: PORTER-CABLE CORPORATION
To: BLACK & DECKER INC.
Reel/Frame 029657/0824 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INVENTOR'S NAME FROM CHANG LEE-CHANG TO CHANG LEE-CHENG. (ASSIGNMENT IS CORRECT; THE RECORDATION NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.) PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 024921 FRAME 0702. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NAME CHANGE TO CHANG LEE-CHENG.. Recorded Jan 16, 2013
From: LEE-CHENG, CHANG
To: PORTER-CABLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029638/0586 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2013
From: LEE-CHANG, CHANG
To: PORTER-CABLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029631/0802 →