Tool for slitting two-conductor cable

Claim 2

In a hand-manipulated device for slitting an elongate object, such as an electrical cable or the like, having first and second sides defining in cross section a predetermined depth and third and fourth sides defining in cross section a predetermined width and where in the device has a frame, has portions defining a passageway for the cable which portions include first and second portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined depth as measured transversely of the passageway and third and fourth portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined width as measured transversely of the passageway, and has a knife with a cutting edge projecting into said passageway from the one side thereof at which said first portion is positioned and toward the other side thereof at which said second portion is positioned with the knife being between said third and fourth portions so that the knife slits the cable while the cable is grasped with one hand and the device is grasped by the other and a relative movement between the two is produced, which movement is longitudinally of the object and in a direction such that the knife moves cutting-edge-first in said direction with respect to the cable, the improvement comprising: said first portion comprising low friction support means for reducing the drag on the cable during the relative movement, said first portion being in said direction from said cutting edge and closely adjacent thereto; said second portion comprising low friction support means for reducing the drag on the cable during the relative movement, said second portion being spaced from said cutting edge in the reverse of said direction; said cutting edge being inclined with respect to said passageway such that the part thereof adjacent the other side of the passageway is farther in said direction than is the part of the edge adjacent said one side of the passageway whereby as said relative movement occurs the object is wedged between said edge and said first portion.

Claim 3

In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said low friction support means each comprises a roller rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis transverse to the length of the object.

Claim 4

In a device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said frame is in the form of a sleeve having walls defining an interior chamber which is open at the ends of the sleeve, with one wall forming said third portion and the opposite wall forming said fourth portion, said knife and said means being within said chamber and between said walls, said sleeve having a slot extending between the ends thereof through which the object may be introduced into the sleeve, said knife and one of said means being between one end opening and the slot, the other of said means being between the other end opening and the slot.

Claim 5

In a device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said slot extends diagonally across one of said walls dividing said wall into two parts, said first portion and said knife being between one part and the opposite wall, said second portion being between said second part and said opposite wall.

Claim 6

In a device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said passageway has a longitudinal axis which intersects said knife at a point, and wherein said frame includes a handle to facilitate grasping the device, said handle including a center and being positioned such That an acute angle is formed between said longitudinal axis and a line from said center to said point.

Claim 7

In a hand-manipulated device for slitting an object, such as an electrical cable or the like, having first and second sides defining in cross section a predetermined depth and third and fourth sides defining in cross section a predetermined width and wherein the device has a frame, has portions defining a passageway for the cable which portions include first and second portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined depth as measured transversely of the passageway and third and fourth portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined width as measured transversely of the passageway, and has a knife with a cutting edge projecting into said passageway from the one side thereof at which said first portion is positioned and toward the other side thereof at which said second portion is positioned with the knife being between said third and fourth portions so that the knife slits the cable while the cable is grasped with one hand and the device is grasped by the other and a relative movement between the two is produced, which movement is longitudinally of the object and in a direction such that the cutting edge moves in said direction with respect to the cable, the improvement comprising: said frame being in the form of a sleeve having walls defining an interior chamber which is open at the ends of the sleeve, with one wall forming said third portion and the opposite wall forming said fourth portion, said first portion being at one position along said passageway, said second portion being at another position along said passageway with the other position being spaced longitudinally of the passageway from the one position, said knife being at a third position longitudinally of said passageway, which third position is between said first and second positions, said cutting edge being inclined with respect to said passageway such that the part thereof adjacent the other side of the passageway is farther in said direction than is the part of the edge adjacent said one side of the passageway whereby as said relative movement occurs the object is wedged between said edge and said first portion.

Claim 8

In a hand-manipulated device for slitting an object, such as an electrical cable or the like, having first and second sides defining in cross section a predetermined depth and third and fourth sides defining in cross section a predetermined width and wherein the device has a frame, has portions defining a passageway for the cable which portions include first and second portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined depth as measured transversely of the passageway and third and fourth portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined width as measured transversely of the passageway, and has a knife with a cutting edge projecting into said passageway from the one side thereof at which said first portion is positioned and toward the other side thereof at which said second portion is positioned with the knife being between said third and fourth portions so that the knife slits the cable while the cable is grasped with one hand and the device is grasped by the other and a relative movement between the two is produced, which movement is longitudinally of the object and in a direction such that the cutting edge moves in said direction with respect to the cable, the improvement comprising: said frame being in the form of a sleeve having walls defining an interior chamber which is open at the ends of the sleeve, with one wall forming said third portion and the opposite wall forming said fourth portion, said first portion being at one position along said passageway, said second portion being at another position along said passageway with the other position being spaced longitudinally of the passageway from the one position, said knife being at a third position longitudinally of said passageway, which third position is between said first and second positions, said cutting edge being inclined with respect to said passageway such that the part thereof adjacent the other side of the passageway is farther in said direction than is the part of the edge adjacent said one side of the passageway whereby as said relative movement occurs the object is wedged between said edge and said first portion.

Claim 9

In a device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said knife and said means are within said chamber and between said walls, said sleeve having a slot extending between the ends thereof through which the object may be introduced into the sleeve, said knife and one of said means being between one end opening and the slot, the other of said means being between the other end opening and the slot.

Claim 10

In a device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said knife is between two of said walls and including a knife holding block at each side of the knife respectively between the knife and the adjacent wall, and a bolt between said two walls, said knife, and said blocks to clamp the knife between the blocks.

Claim 11

In a device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said passageway a longitudinal axis which intersects said knife at a point, and wherein said frame includes a handle to facilitate grasping the device, said handle including a center and being positioned such that an acute angle is formed between said longitudinal axis and a line from said center to said point.

Claim 12

In a hand-manipulated device for slitting an object, such as an electrical cable or the like, having first and second sides defining in cross section a predetermined depth and third and fourth sides defining in cross section a predetermined width and wherein the device has a frame, has portions defining a passageway for the cable which portions include first and second portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined depth as measured transversely of the passageway and third and fourth portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined width as measured transversely of the passageway, and has a knife with a cutting edge projecting into said passageway from the one side thereof at which said First portion is positioned and toward the other side thereof at which said second portion is positioned with the knife being between said third and fourth portions so that the knife slits the cable while the cable is grasped with one hand and the device is grasped by the other and a relative movement between the two is produced, which movement is longitudinally of the object and in a direction such that the cutting edge moves in said direction with respect to the cable, the improvement comprising: said frame being in the form of a sleeve having walls defining an interior chamber which is open at the ends of the sleeve, with one wall forming said third portion and the opposite wall forming said fourth portion, said knife and said means being within said chamber and between said walls, said sleeve having a slot extending between the ends thereof through which the object may be introduced into the sleeve, said knife and one of said means being between one end opening and the slot, the other of said means being between the other end opening and the slot.

Claim 13

In a hand-manipulated device for slitting an object, such as an electrical cable or the like, having first and second sides defining in cross section a predetermined depth and third and fourth sides defining in cross section a predetermined width and wherein the device has a frame, has portions defining a passageway for the cable which portions include first and second portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined depth as measured transversely of the passageway and third and fourth portions spaced apart approximately said predetermined width as measured transversely of the passageway, and has a knife with a cutting edge projecting into said passageway from the one side thereof at which said First portion is positioned and toward the other side thereof at which said second portion is positioned with the knife being between said third and fourth portions so that the knife slits the cable while the cable is grasped with one hand and the device is grasped by the other and a relative movement between the two is produced, which movement is longitudinally of the object and in a direction such that the cutting edge moves in said direction with respect to the cable, the improvement comprising: said frame being in the form of a sleeve having walls defining an interior chamber which is open at the ends of the sleeve, with one wall forming said third portion and the opposite wall forming said fourth portion, said knife and said means being within said chamber and between said walls, said sleeve having a slot extending between the ends thereof through which the object may be introduced into the sleeve, said knife and one of said means being between one end opening and the slot, the other of said means being between the other end opening and the slot.

Claim 14

In a device set forth in claim 10, wherein said knife is between two of said walls and including a knife holding block at each side of the knife respectively between the knife and the adjacent wall, and a bolt between said two walls, said knife, and said blocks to clamp the knife between the blocks.

Claim 15

In a device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said slot has a width approximately equal to said predetermined depth.