Protective shield for sheet material cutter

Claim 2

A substantially L-shaped shield for the cutting edge of a cutter used to cut sheet material, said shield being made of a resilient material and comprising a supporting portion defined by a comparatively long planar leg thereof which is adapted to be fastened adjacent said cutter and a portion extending transverse said supporting portion and being defined by the shorter leg thereof, said transverse portion extending in a protective position over the terminal end of said cutting edge, said transverse portion being adapted to be engaged by said sheet material and displaced from its protective position during a normal cutting operation using said cutting edge by deflecting said supporting portion away from said cutting edge and upon completion of the cutting operation said sheet material is moved out of engagement with said transverse portion whereupon the resilient character of said supporting portion restores said transverse portion to its protective position.

Claim 3

A shield as set forth in claim 1 said supporting portion is attached to an associated support therefor adjacent its outer edge to provide a comparatively long lever arm which enables easier flexing movement thereof and hence easier movement of said transverse portion from its protective position.

Claim 4

A shield as set forth in claim 2 in which said resilient material comprises a resilient plastic material, said plastic material having sufficient toughness to prevent damage by said cutting edge to said transverse portion and sufficient rigidity to maintain said substantially L-shaped configuration.

Claim 5

In combination: a dispensing carton having a chamber which is adapted to receive a roll of sheet material and having a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall hinged to the top edge of said rear wall and including a tuck flap at its swinging end which is arranged behind said front wall during dispensing of said sheet material, said sheet material being easily dispensed from said carton by slightly depressing the forward portion of said top wall, enabling easy grasping of the free end of said sheet material and pulling a desired length thereof between said front wall and said tuck flap; a cutter mounted on and defining the upper edge portion of said front wall, said cutter having an exposed cutting edge; and a substantially L-shaped shield for said cutting edge, said shield being made of a resilient material and having a supporting portion defined by a comparatively long planar leg thereof which is fastened to said front wall and a portion extending transverse said supporting portion and being defined by the shorter leg thereof, said transverse portion extending in a protective position over the terminal end of said cutting edge; said transverse portion being adapted to be engaged by said sheet material during said pulling of a desired length and displaced from its protective position by deflecting said supporting portion away from said front wall enabling said sheet material to be pulled against said cutting edge and cut, and upon completion of the cutting operation said sheet material is moved out of engagement with said transverse portion whereupon the resilient character of said supporting portion restores said transverse portion to its protective position.

Claim 6

In combination: a dispensing carton having a chamber which is adapted to receive a roll of sheet material and having a front wall, a rear wall, and a top wall hinged to the top edge of said rear wall and including a tuck flap at its swinging end which is arranged behind said front wall during dispensing of said sheet material, said sheet material being easily dispensed from said carton by slightly depressing the forward portion of said top wall, enabling easy grasping of the free end of said sheet material and pulling a desired length thereof between said front wall and said tuck flap; a cutter mounted on and defining the upper edge portion of said front wall, said cutter having an exposed cutting edge; and a substantially L-shaped shield for said cutting edge, said shield being made of a resilient material and having a supporting portion defined by a comparatively long planar leg thereof which is fastened to said front wall and a portion extending transverse said supporting portion and being defined by the shorter leg thereof, said transverse portion extending in a protective position over the terminal end of said cutting edge; said transverse portion being adapted to be engaged by said sheet material during said pulling of a desired length and displaced from its protective position by deflecting said supporting portion away from said front wall enabling said sheet material to be pulled against said cutting edge and cut, and upon completion of the cutting operation said sheet material is moved out of engagement with said transverse portion whereupon the resilient character of said supporting portion restores said transverse portion to its protective position.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which, said cutter comprises a substantially planar cutter blade fastened substantially coplanar with said front wall, said L-shaped shield having said supporting portion and said transverse portion made as one integral part, and said supporting portion being normally supported by said front wall in a position substantially coplanar with said cutter blade with said transverse portion extending over said cutting edge in said protective position.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said long leg portion is attached to said front wall beneath the edge of said cutter blade which is arranged opposite said cutting edge to provide a comparatively long lever arm which enables easier flexing movement of said long leg portion and hence easier movement of said transverse portion from its protective position.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which, said cutting edge of said cutter comprises a saw-toothed cutting edge and said shield is made of a resilient plastic material having sufficient toughness to prevent damage by said saw-toothed cutting edge to said transverse portion and sufficient rigidity to maintain said substantially L-shaped configuration.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which said shield is made from an elongated flat strip of resilient plastic material which is permanently deformed to define said L-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 11

A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said cutter and said shield are fastened to said front wall independently of each other.