US-12617108-B2 - Foam board cutter

US12617108B2US 12617108 B2US12617108 B2US 12617108B2US-12617108-B2

Abstract

A foam board cutter configured with dual retractable cutting blades that may be extended and retracted by dual blade actuation mechanisms which may be parallel to one another and independently operable. Each blade actuation mechanism of the cutter may include a slider button assembly operably connected to a blade holder configured to hold a blade.

Inventors

Joshua Ferchaud

Assignees

SLICE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221101

Claims (17)

1 . A cutting device, comprising: a first blade cartridge assembly configured in parallel position to a second blade cartridge assembly, wherein each blade cartridge assembly comprises a blade holder configured to retain a blade and a slider button assembly configured to move along a slider track, wherein each blade cartridge assembly operates independently of the other blade cartridge assembly; a slider button having a slider post extending from a bottom surface thereof, the slider post comprising a pair of wing elements extending from opposing side surfaces thereof; and a base plate with a shaped opening configured to receive the slider post, a shaped member in a wide “u” shape, comprising a pair of arm elements extending from a flexible base portion which extends from a surface of the base plate, and wherein a portion of the shaped member is configured to move relative to the shaped opening.
2 . The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein each blade cartridge assembly is able to function side-by-side and simultaneously with the other blade cartridge assembly.
3 . The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein the slider post loosely fits within the shaped opening of the base plate and upon application of a force on the slider button, the wing elements are adapted to move the arm elements, and wherein the arm elements of the base plate are configured to selectively engage with notches disposed on the slider channel of a housing of the cutting device to selectively lock the slider assembly in a user selected position along the slider track.
4 . A cutting device, comprising: a housing comprising: one or more blade cartridge assembly tracks, each track comprising a slot having an interior top boarder with a plurality of notches; a first housing shell connected to a second housing shell; and an intermediate member between the first housing shell and the second housing shell, wherein a rear end of the intermediate member extends beyond the first housing shell and the rear comprises one or more elongated protrusions to which an end cap is configured to slide along in a vertical direction, the end cap being selectively detachable from the intermediate member; and a pair of blade cartridge assemblies, each blade cartridge assembly of the blade cartridge assemblies being adapted to engage with one of the one or more blade cartridge assembly tracks, each blade cartridge assembly further comprising: a slider button assembly comprising a base plate adapted to engage with a slider button having a slider post adapted to travel through at least one of the slots of the blade cartridge assembly tracks, the base plate having a shaped opening and a shaped member with two engagement ends, each engagement end configured to be selectively received by the notches of the blade cartridge track to selectively lock the slider button assembly in a user-selected position relative to the blade cartridge track; and a blade holder adapted to receive a blade.
5 . The cutting device of claim 4 , wherein the pair of blade cartridge assemblies are configured in a parallel position and to be deployable simultaneously.
6 . The cutting device of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the slider post and at least a portion of the shaped member are configured to be received within the shaped opening of the base plate.
7 . The cutting device of claim 4 , wherein a first blade cartridge assembly of the pair blade cartridge assemblies is aligned on a first side of the intermediate member and a second blade cartridge assembly of the pair blade cartridge assemblies is aligned on a second side of the intermediate member.
8 . The cutting device of claim 7 , wherein detaching the end cap enables each of the blade cartridge assemblies to be removed from between the housing shells and the intermediate member.
9 . The cutting device of claim 8 , wherein a top edge of the intermediate member is includes a notch adapted to receive a locking switch of the end cap to lock the end cap in a secured position on the rear of the intermediate member.
10 . The cutting device of claim 7 , wherein each blade cartridge is positioned on a side of the intermediate member, and the intermediate member comprises a pair of grooves on each such side, upon which each blade cartridge is able to move to stably extend or retract either of the blades from the housing.
11 . The cutting device of claim 4 , wherein a first blade cartridge assembly of the pair of blade cartridge assemblies facilitates a 45 degree angle cut in a first direction relative to a cutting surface and a second blade cartridge assembly of the pair of blade cartridge assemblies facilitates a 45 degree angle cut in a second direction relative to the cutting surface.
12 . A foam board cutter comprising: a body member comprising: a first housing shell and a second housing shell, the first housing shell and second housing shell each comprising a slider button track having a slot with an interior boarder that includes a plurality of notches; an intermediate member disposed between and configured to support connection of the first housing shell and the second housing shell, the intermediate member comprising a first face facing the first housing shell and a second face facing the second housing shell, the first face and the second face each comprising a blade cartridge assembly groove; a first gap between the first face of the intermediate member and the first housing shell; a second gap between the second face of the intermediate member and the second housing shell, wherein the first gap and the second gap each define an opening in a rear portion of the body member; and a removable end cap configured to selectively attach to a rear end of the body member to cover the first gap and the second gap; and a pair of blade cartridge assemblies, wherein one blade cartridge assembly of the pair of blade cartridge assemblies is removably disposed in each of the first gap and the second gap, each of the blade carriage assemblies further comprising: a slider button assembly comprising a base plate adapted to engage a slider post of a slide button adapted to travel along the slot of the slider button track, the base plate having a shaped member with at least two notch engagement ends, each notch engagement end of each slider button assembly configured to be selectively received by the notches of its respective slider button track to selectively lock each slider button assembly in a selected position relative to its respective slider button track; and a blade holder extending from an end of the slider button assembly and configured to retain a blade.
13 . The foam board cutter of claim 12 , wherein a first blade cartridge assembly of the pair blade cartridge assemblies is configured to travel within the first gap along a first blade cartridge assembly groove on the intermediate member and a second blade cartridge assembly of the pair blade cartridge assemblies is configured to travel within the second gap along a second blade cartridge assembly groove on the intermediate member.
14 . The foam board cutter of claim 12 , wherein the blade holder comprises a first arm extension comprising one or more “u” shaped protrusions and a second arm extension comprising a cylindrical protrusion configured to be received in a receiving hole of the blade.
15 . The foam board cutter of claim 12 , further comprising a lifting tool on a front end of the intermediate member.
16 . The foam board cutter of claim 12 , wherein each slider button assembly further comprises: a pair of wing elements extending from opposing side surfaces of the slider post; and a shaped opening in the base plate; wherein the shaped member is a wide “u” shape and comprises a pair of arm elements extending from a flexible base portion which extends from a surface of the base plate, each arm element comprising at least one notch engagement end, and wherein at least a portion of the shaped member configured to be received by the shaped opening.
17 . The foam board cutter of claim 16 , wherein the slider post loosely fits within the shaped opening of the base plate and upon application of a force on the slider button, the wing elements are adapted to move the arm elements and disengage the arm elements from the notches of the slider track to selectively permit movement of the blade cartridge assemblies.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a foam board cutter with dual retractable cutting blades. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a foam board cutter apparatus with one or more retracting blade cartridges, including embodiments where dual cutting blades are disposed on corresponding dual blade cartridges which may be manually retracted by a user when corresponding dual slider switches are moved. BACKGROUND Foam board cutters may be designed in a variety of configurations and include any number of features to improve the safety and ergonomics of the tool. However, currently available foam board cutters are not provided with dual, parallel blades which are independently operable and are able to function side-by-side and simultaneously with one another. Moreover, currently available foam board cutters are not configured for ambidextrous use and lack the ability to make 45° cuts in two directions utilizing one of the dual blades. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a foam board cutter that comprises dual blades that are independently operable, parallel, and are able to function side-by-side with one another and optionally permits 45° cuts in two directions utilizing one of the dual blades. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained and will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention that follows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a foam board cutter with a dual blade cartridge assembly to enable dual cutting. Each blade cartridge assembly may comprise its own blade holder, blade, and slider button assembly. Having a dual blade cartridge assembly may enable independent operation of each blade. However, one or both blades may be utilized at any given time. Furthermore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a blade cartridge assembly that is removable to allow for the replacement of blades. The blade cartridge assemblies may be configured within a first and second housing shells and sealed with a cap. The cap may optionally be locked in at least primary and secondary modes. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a foam board cutter may comprise a first blade cartridge assembly configured in parallel position to a second blade cartridge assembly, wherein each blade cartridge assembly comprises a blade holder and a blade. According to certain embodiments, each blade cartridge assembly may operate independently of the other blade cartridge assembly. However, the invention is configured such that the blade cartridges may also operate cooperatively. In any embodiment, the foam board cutter may be able to cut a strip of a predetermined width (e.g., a width determined by the distance between the dual blades) from the cutting surface. According to embodiments, the blade cartridge assemblies may also include a slider button assembly. A slider button assembly may comprise a slider button affixed to a slider post. A portion of the slider, for example, a portion of the slider post and/or the slider button may glide along a channel disposed in the foam board cutter housing. According to embodiments of the current invention, the foam board cutter may further comprise a first housing shell connected to a second housing shell, for example, by an attachment means. One or more attachment means may be utilized to connect the first housing shell to the second housing shell. The attachment means may be screws, pins, adhesives or any other suitable attachment means from attaching housing shells. In some examples, the first housing shell may be directly or indirectly connected to the second housing shell, for example, the first housing shell may be partially and/or indirectly connected to the second housing shell by means of an intermediate member. In some examples, attachment means corresponding to the attachment means of the housing shells may be disposed on the intermediate member. For example, shaped protrusions extending from an interior face of each of the housing shells may be configured to attach to or otherwise engage with correspondingly shaped cavities disposed on the intermediate member. Additionally or alternatively, shaped protrusions extending from an interior face of a housing shell may be configured to attach to or otherwise engage with correspondingly shaped cavities disposed on the opposing housing shell. In some embodiments, the first housing shell and the second housing shell may be integrally connected. The first blade cartridge assembly may be configured to align against a first housing shell on one side of the intermediate member and a second blade cartridge assembly may be configured to align against a second housing shell on a second side of the intermediate member. In some examples, the first and second cartridge assemblies may each be configured to align against the intermediate member. Accord