US3885309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable cutters
Assignee: Post Office
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Filing: 1974-02-13
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A manually operable tool for cutting cables and the like has first and second crossed levers formed with co-operating cutting jaws. A handle pivotable on the first lever has a spring biassed plunger mounted within it which bears against a toothed fulcrum member integral with the second lever. Closure of the jaws is effected by a ratchet action on pivoting the handle; the plunger drives the jaws together during the forward stoke and a retaining pawl locks the jaws in their relative positions during the return stroke. Means are included to effect simultaneous release of the plunger and the retaining pawl from the toothed fulcrum member to enable rapid opening or closure of the jaws.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Ernest Lund
- 👤 Kenneth Harry Holbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:43
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23D; B23D29/00; B23D29/02; B23D29/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
Apparatus for severing cables and the like comprising first and second co-operating severing jaws formed respectively at one end of each of first and second pivotally connected first-order levers, said first first-order lever having integral therewith a fulcrum member having notches directly engageable by one end of a second-order lever, said second-order lever being pivotally mounted relative to said second first-order lever at a point spaced from the end of said second-order lever to provide a drive transfer pivot at said point, and wherein said notches provide successive fulcrums for said second-order lever during oscillatory movement thereof so that during pivotal movement in a first direction of said second order lever, relative rotation is effected between said first-order levers in a jaw closing direction and during pivotal movement of the second-order lever in the opposite direction, retaining means interengageable between said second first-order lever and said fulcrum member prevents relative rotation of the first-order levers in a jaw opening direction and actuating means associated with the secondorder lever effects relocation of the end of the second-order lever in the next adjacent notch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
Apparatus for severing cables and the like comprising first and second co-operating severing jaws formed respectively at one end of each of first and second pivotally connected first-order levers, said first first-order lever having integral therewith a fulcrum member having notches directly engageable by one end of a second-order lever, said second-order lever being pivotally mounted relative to said second first-order lever at a point spaced from the end of said second-order lever to provide a drive transfer pivot at said point, and wherein said notches provide successive fulcrums for said second-order lever during oscillatory movement thereof so that during pivotal movement in a first direction of said second order lever, relative rotation is effected between said first-order levers in a jaw closing direction and during pivotal movement of the second-order lever in the opposite direction, retaining means interengageable between said second first-order lever and said fulcrum member prevents relative rotation of the first-order levers in a jaw opening direction and actuating means associated with the secondorder lever effects relocation of the end of the second-order lever in the next adjacent notch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for severing cables and the like comprising first and second co-operating severing jaws formed respectively at one end of each of first and second pivotally connected first-order levers, said first first-order lever having integral therewith a fulcrum member having a number of fulcrum defining positions each of which is directly engageable by one end of a second-order lever, said second-order lever being resiliently biased into engagement with said fulcrum member and being pivotally mounted relative to said second first-order lever at a point spaced from the end of said second-order lever to provide a drive transfer pivot at that point, and retaining means selectively inter-engageable between said second first-order lever and a first of the fulcrum defining positions on said fulcrum member, to prevent the jaws from opening while said one end of the second-order lever is transferred between adjacent fulcrum defining positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for severing cables and the like comprising first and second co-operating severing jaws formed respectively at one end of each of first and second pivotally connected first-order levers, said first first-order lever having integral therewith a fulcrum member having a number of fulcrum defining positions each of which is directly engageable by one end of a second-order lever, said second-order lever being resiliently biased into engagement with said fulcrum member and being pivotally mounted relative to said second first-order lever at a point spaced from the end of said second-order lever to provide a drive transfer pivot at that point, and retaining means selectively inter-engageable between said second first-order lever and a first of the fulcrum defining positions on said fulcrum member, to prevent the jaws from opening while said one end of the second-order lever is transferred between adjacent fulcrum defining positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including actuating means operable to move the resiliently-biassed second-order lever between first and second positions in which said one end of said second-order lever is respectively engaged with and disengaged from said fulcrum member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein releasing means are included interjacent said second-order lever aNd said retaining means whereby movement of said second-order lever from said first to said second position disengages said retaining means from said fulcrum member to allow free pivotal motion between said first-order levers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said one end of said second-order lever is, in use, engageable with successive notches of a row of notches formed on said fulcrum member, which notches provide said fulcrum defining positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said notches are located on an arc centred at the pivotal connection between said first-order levers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second-order lever comprises a handle and an elongate plunger having its lower end directly engageable with said fulcrum member, said elongate plunger being slidably mounted within a hollow section of the handle which is pivotally connected to said second first-order lever.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a spring means located within said handle biasses an end of the plunger into engagement with an adjacent notch of a row of notches formed in said fulcrum member, which notches provide said fulcrum defining positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 including an actuating arm operable to move the plunger between first and second positions in which said one end of said plunger is respectively engaged with and disengaged from said fulcrum member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said actuating arm extends from the plunger through a slot in a side wall of the handle at a location remote from the end of the plunger and said location being adjacent a hand grip position of the operator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said retaining means is a pawl pivotally mounted on the second first-order lever, the pawl having an end which is spring-loaded into engagement with the notch which is coincident with the end of the pawl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said retaining means is disengaged by releasing means acting on said pawl whereby when the end of the said plunger is disengaged from a notch on said fulcrum member by operation of said arm of the actuating means, movement of the handle in a direction to open said jaws disengages the pawl from the coincident notch and retains it in the disengaged position so that the jaws open freely.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said releasing means includes a ramp integral with said plunger and an elongate member constrained to longitudinal movement and spring-biassed into engagement with the ramp whereby on movement of said plunger from said first to said second position said ramp moves the elongate member into contact with the pawl to rotate the pawl out of engagement with the notches fulcrum member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first first-order lever and said second-order lever are adapted to be gripped at their outer ends and whereby on oscillatory movement of said second-order lever about successive fulcrum defining positions, said jaws are closed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 whereby on pivotal movement of said second-order lever about a fulcrum defining position in a direction to close said first first-order lever and said second-order lever a mechanical advantage in the range from 40 to 70 is attained at said jaws.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |