Drywall cutting device

Claim 2

A drywall cutting device comprising: a slidetrack wherein said slidetrack further comprises a track member having a L-shaped cross section connected to a member extending substantially perpendicularly downward from one arm of said track member whereby a channel is formed, said channel of substantial width to accommodate various thicknesses of drywall, whereby said cutting device may be slidably mounted on an edge of a piece of drywall; guide means connected to said slidetrack and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, whereby said guide means may allow motion of a device slidably mounted thereon on a line substantially perpendicular to the plane of motion of said slidetrack; means for cutting said drywall; and a cutting means holding device slidably mounted on said guide means whereby drywall may be cut in various directions by sliding said cutting means holding device on said guide means or by sliding said slidetrack on said edge of said piece of drywall.

Claim 3

The drywall cutting device of claim 1 wherein said slidetrack further comprises a spring tensioner mounted in said channel whereby said channel may be held more closely against said drywall, thereby facilitating cutting of drywall by assisting in the positioning of said drywall cutting device.

Claim 4

The drywall cutting device of claim 1 wherein said guide means further comprises two substantially parallel tubular members mounted on said slidetrack and substantially perpendicular thereto.

Claim 5

The drywall cutting device of claim 3 wherein said tubular members are substantially rectangular in cross section, and said mounting further comprises an L-shaped bracket connected to and extending upwardly from said slidetrack such that an arm of said bracket extends over and in front of said slidetrack, and to the outer underside of said arm are connected and extended downward said tubular members.

Claim 6

The drywall cutting device of claim 4 wherein said guide means further comprise extending tubular guide rails comprising two exterior tubular members and two interior tubular members wherein said interior tubular members are connected to and extend downwards from said L-shaped bracket and said exterior tubular members allow said interior tubular members to slide into the hollow center area of said exterior tubular members, said exterior tubular members being connected by struts extending between and connected to the respective upper and lower sections of said exterior tubular members, whereby the exterior tubular member assembly may be slid along said interior tubular members, thereby increasing the overall length extension of said guide means.

Claim 7

The drywall cutting device of claim 5 further comprising a latch means for restricting slidability of said exterior tubular member assembly.

Claim 8

The drywall cutting device of claim 1 wherein said cutting means holding device further comprises a trolley slidably mounted on said guide means.

Claim 9

The drywall cutting device of claim 7 wherein said trolley further comprises spaced apart, generally parallel, and substantially rectangular first and second plates, the first substantially rectangular plate on one side of said guide means, the second substantially rectangular plate on the opposite side, whereby said guide means is sandwiched between said plates, thereby allowing said trolley to slide upon said guide means without falling therefrom, said trolley further comprising a generally cylindrical hole extending through said plates, said hole substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said trolley slides.

Claim 10

The drywall cutting device of claim 8 wherein said trolley further comprises means for narrowing the gap between said plates, thereby restricting movement of said trolley along said guide rails.

Claim 11

The drywall cutting device of claim 9 wherein said trolley further comprises a cutting device holder rotatably and movably mounted on said trolley, and on the side of said trolley facing said slidetrack, thereby allowing engagement of said piece of drywall.

Claim 12

The drywall cutting device of claim 10 wherein said cutting device holder further comprises a sleeve and rotatable holding member, said member slidably mounted inside said sleeve, and both mounted within said cylindrical hole through said plates, said member further adapted to receive and hold a conventional breakaway knife blade, whereby said blade would be held in contact with and cutting into said piece of drywall.

Claim 13

The drywall cutting device of claim 11 wherein said sleeve is rotatable in 90° increments, whereby said blade may be held to cut parallel to either said guide means or to said slidetrack, thereby cutting in any of four directions.

Claim 14

The drywall cutting device of claim 10 wherein said cutting means holder further comprises a spring-loaded push button device adapted for receiving and holding a cutting means such as a knife blade, whereby, when a button is pushed and held, the receiving and holding means allows for insertion of the non-cutting end of said blade, then when said button is released, holds said blade is held within said receiving and holding means, the process thereby facilitating changing of knife blades.

Claim 15

The drywall cutting device of claim 13 wherein said receiving and holding means further comprises, said slidable holding member having a slotted end to be adjacent said drywall, and a button end opposite said slotted end, said slotted end comprising, two slots cut into said holding member, each along the longitudinal center line of said holding member and substantially perpendicular to each other, starting at said slotted end of said holding member and extending back into said holding member approximately 1/4 of the length of said holding member, whereby a cross-shaped divisioning of said slotted end of said holding member is achieved, said slotted end of said holding member further comprising small triangular-shaped extensions mounted on the outer edges of said slotted end of said holding member, said sleeve further comprising, said holding member slidably mounted inside of said sleeve, inner diameter of said sleeve slightly wider that the cross-sectional diameter of said holding member, whereby said extensions on said slotted end of said holding member extend wider than said inner diameter of said sleeve, thereby, when said member is retracted into said sleeve, said holding member is stopped from retracting further by said extensions contacting said sleeve, contact between said sleeve and said extensions further acting to compress said slotted end of said holding member, whereby said slots are narrowed, thereby frictionally securing said cutting means therein, said sleeve further comprising a pair of pins mounted on the outer surface of said sleeve, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, and near said slotted end of said holding member, and pin springs connected to and extending between said pins and a blade location securing device, whereby said sleeve and said member are tensioned away from said blade location securing device, said sleeve, said holding member, said pins, and said pin springs all emplaced inside of and through said generally cylindrical hole in said trolley, said button further comprising, a disk mounted on the button end of said holding member slots and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said holding member, a corotation pin extending outward from an edge of said disk along a radius of said disk, one or more springs connected to and extending between said disk and said blade rotation device whereby said disk is tensioned in a direction opposite said slotted end of said holding member, thereby pulling said holding member back through said sleeve, narrowing said slots and frictionally securing said cutting means emplaced therein.

Claim 16

The drywall cutting device of claim 14 wherein said blade location securing device further comprises, two concentric disks connected in face-to-face relation and having center holes of diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said sleeve whereby said sleeve may fit therethrough, a first disk of smaller diameter than a second disk, said first disk of outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said hole in said trolley, whereby said first disk fits within said hole, said second disk mounted on said trolley such that said first disk is within said hole, said second disk further comprising a plurality of conical indentations formed in the disk face opposite said first disk, whereby a conical extension on said blade rotating device may be movably held therein, thereby allowing for blade location securement.

Claim 17

The drywall cutting device of claim 15 wherein said blade rotation device further comprises, two concentric disks connected in face-to-face relation, a first rotation disk having a center hole of diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said sleeve whereby said sleeve may fit therethrough, a second rotation disk having a center hole of diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said button, whereby said button may be placed therein and depressed a distance equal to the thickness of said second rotation disk, said first rotation disk further comprising said conical extension extending outwardly from the disk face opposite said second rotation disk, said conical extension of approximately the same dimensions as said conical indentations on said second disk of said blade location securing device, said second rotation disk further comprising a radial slot extending outwardly from said center hole whereby said pin on said button may fit within said slot, thereby when said blade rotation device is rotated, said button is likewise rotated, and thus said holding member and said cutting device are also rotated, said blade rotation device and said blade location securing device are aligned such that said sleeve extending from said blade rotation device extends through said center hole in said blade location securing device and said blade rotation device is retractably and rotatably held against said blade location securing device by tensioning from said pin springs acting on said sleeve, thereby securing said conical extension on said blade rotation device within a conical indentation on said blade location securing device.

Claim 18

The drywall cutting device of claim 16 wherein said blade rotation device further comprises knurling on the outer edge of said second rotation disk whereby a better grip may be had on said blade rotation device for its rotation.

Claim 19

The drywall cutting device of claim 1 wherein said slide track further comprises means for mounting a conventional measuring device thereon, whereby more exact cutting dimensions may be followed.