Cutting device

Abstract

A cutting device, particularly suited for removing vehicle glazing panels, has forward blade carrier and a rearward handle spaced from the forward blade carrier. The forward blade carrier may function as a handle, the device thereby being operable in two handed use. The rearward handle and forward blade carrier may be movable relative to one another permitting re-configuration of the device. The rearward handle and forward blade carrier may be connected by a bridge portion. Novel aspects of the blade and lubrication for the device are also described and claimed.

1 . A cutting device comprising a forward blade carrier and a rearward handle spaced from the forward blade carrier, the rearward handle and forward blade carrier being movable relative to one another permitting re-configuration of the device.  
     
     
         2 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearward handle and forward blade carrier are lockable relative to one another permitting setting of the device in re-configured orientations.  
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearward handle is movable in an arc about the forward blade carrier.  
     
     
         5 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearward handle is movable about the forward blade carrier through an angle that includes at least one of 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees and 360 degrees.  
     
     
         6 - 9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including a lock arrangement for locking the rearward handle relative to the blade carrier in a plurality of orientations.  
     
     
         11 . A cutting device according to  claim 10 , wherein the lock means comprises at least one of: a lock actuator accessible to a user of the device and a biasing arrangement for biasing the lock arrangement normally to a locked orientation.  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A cutting device according to  claim 4 , including a rotatable mounting at the blade carrier for mounting the rearward handle rotatably relative to the blade carrier.  
     
     
         14 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade carrier includes an external surface portion providing a forward handle.  
     
     
         15 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including a bridge portion extending between the rearward handle and the blade carrier.  
     
     
         16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A cutting device according to  claim 15 , including a rotatable mounting at the blade carrier that provides for rotational movement of the bridge portion and the rearward handle relative to the blade carrier.  
     
     
         18 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rearward handle and the blade carrier extend downwardly from a connecting bridge portion.  
     
     
         19 . A cutting device according to  claim 18 , wherein the rearward handle, blade carrier and connecting bridge portion are arranged such that at least of the following conditions are satisfied: 
 i) the rearward handle axis, blade carrier and bridge portion lie substantially in the same plane; and    ii) the rearward handle and the blade carrier are substantially parallel to one another.    
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including a blade adjustment arrangement for adjusting the position of a blade relative to the blade carrier.  
     
     
         22 . A cutting device according to  claim 21 , wherein the blade adjustment arrangement comprises at least one of: an actuator provided on the exterior of the device and a ratchet mechanism adapted to advance and/or retract the blade relative to the blade carrier.  
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade carrier includes at least one of: an internal receiving recess for receiving a blade and a blade retaining element for securing a blade to the blade carrier.  
     
     
         26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . A cutting device according to  claim 25 , wherein the blade retaining element is resiliently biased in a retaining position.  
     
     
         28 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including engagement means for engaging a substrate at a level spaced from the terminal portion of the blade.  
     
     
         29 . A cutting device according to  claim 28 , wherein the engagement means is carried by the blade carrier.  
     
     
         30 . A cutting device according to  claim 28 , wherein the engagement means comprises a rotatable element (preferably a roller).  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blade which includes an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the blade carrier and a cutting portion extending transversely to the mounting portion.  
     
     
         33 . A cutting device according to  claim 32 , wherein the cutting portion of the blade extends transversely to the plane in which the blade carrier and rearward handle lie.  
     
     
         34 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including a lubrication arrangement for delivering lubricant to a blade carried by the blade carrier.  
     
     
         35 . A cutting device according to  claim 34 , wherein the lubrication arrangement includes at least one of: 
 i) a lubricant reservoir (which is preferably disposed internally of the rearward handle),    ii) delivery means for delivering the lubricant via the blade carrier to a blade carried therein (which is preferably arranged to deliver the lubricant to the blade along a path internally of the blade carrier),    iii) a conduit spanning a bridge portion extending between the rearward handle and the forward handle,    iv) a lubricant injector or nozzle that is part of the blade carrier, which is arranged to dispense lubricant to a portion of a blade carried therein, and    v) a lubricant delivery actuator that is mounted on the exterior of the device.    
     
     
         36 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A cutting device according to  claim 1 , including a blade having a cutting portion and a fixing portion extending substantially transversely to the cutting portion.  
     
     
         44 . A cutting device comprising a forward blade carrier, a rearward handle spaced from the forward blade carrier and a bridge portion interconnecting the forward blade carrier and the rearward handle which both depend from the bridge portion, the forward blade carrier providing a forward handle for the device, the forward blade carrier, rearward handle and bridge portion being in substantially the same plane.  
     
     
         45 - 51 . (canceled)  
     
     
         52 . A method of removing a vehicle windscreen or other structural panel or element comprising: 
 providing a cutting device including a forward blade carrier and a rearward handle spaced from the forward blade carrier, the rearward handle and forward blade carrier being movable relative to one another permitting re-configuration of the device, and    manually manipulating the forward blade carrier and rearward handle to apply force to the device to cut the windscreen or other structural element with the blade of the device.    
     
     
         53 - 59 . (canceled)