CUTTING DEVICE

The present invention relates to cutting devices in particular, but not exclusively, for cutting dispensing outlets or spouts of tubes containing flowable materials.

In the building industry, tubes of flowable materials, such as silicone sealant, caulk or mastic are provided with a projecting generally cylindrical outlet spout of plastics which is sealed at its distal end. The spout is externally screwthreaded so that it can be engaged by a frustoconical nozzle which is correspondingly internally screwthreaded at one end. The internal diameter of the nozzle progressively reduces with distance from its screwthreaded end.

Currently it is the practice to release the contents of the tube by severing the spout adjacent its distal end using a knife. The nozzle is then screwthreadedly mounted on the outlet and the nozzle is then severed with a knife at a point along its length to give the required diameter of flow from the tube when the contents of the tube are being squeezed out of the tube. The nozzle may be severed in a plane inclined to the axis at an angle considerably less than 90 so that the resulting open side of the nozzle provides an open channel for directing the flow from the nozzle to a required destination.

The problem with this situation is that the use of a knife in these circumstances is hazardous and can often result in injury to the user or to adjacent articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cutting device which reduces the risk of injury to the user and/or damage to surfaces as a result of cutting a tube cone or nozzle by use of a knife.

According to the present invention there is provided a cutting device having a central axis to be aligned with the axis of a cylindrical outlet spout to be severed, a pair of support walls lying on opposite sides of said central axis, a projection extending from each wall towards the central axis, said projections being aligned with each other, at least one said projection supporting a blade lying in a plane extending at right angles to said central axis and a pair of interconnecting walls lying on opposite sides of said axis to interconnect the two support walls, at least a portion of said interconnecting walls being both flexible and resilient so that when said support walls are squeezed together, against the resilience of said interconnecting walls, said projections are displaced to move said blade into cutting engagement with said outlet spout when located in said cutting device, so that on rotation of the device about said axis, said outlet spout is severed and when said support walls are released, the interconnecting walls resile to move said support walls and therefore said projections away from each other.

A cutting device embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the cutting device mounted on top of the tube of flowable material;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 from the front and below;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device from the rear and above; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figure 3 showing a nozzle in position to be sliced.

The cutting device shown in Figure 1 is shown seated on top of a tube 10 of decorator's caulk. The tube 10 has a cylindrical outlet spout 8 which is sealed at its upper end.

The cutting device has a central axis 6 which is aligned with the axis of the spout 8. The cutting device includes a pair of support walls 2 and 4 lying on opposite sides of the axis 6. Each support wall is generally arcuate to give the device a generally cylindrical appearance. The outer surface of each support wall 2 and 4 is provided with a series of ribs all extending parallel to said axis 6 to provide for extra grip. Also the device may be substantially encased in a bonded soft grip material more especially over the outer walls of each support 2 and 4 (not shown).

A pair of interconnecting walls 16 and 18, lying on opposite sides of the axis 6, interconnect with two support walls 2 and 4 which have inner walls that locate the device around spout 8.

Each interconnecting wall 16 and 18 has a generally rigid central section 16A and 18A which extends generally at right angles to the support walls 2 and 4. Each interconnecting wall 16 and 18 has two lateral sections 16B, 16B and 18B, 18B which

- A - extend generally at right angles to the central sections and are connected along their distal sides to the corresponding distal sides of the support walls 2 and 4. The lateral sections are much thinner than the central sections and are of plastics material which is both flexible and resilient. In fact, the lateral sections may be considerably thinner than the central sections so as to provide the flex required over this section of the device.

Each support wall 2 and 4 carries an inwardly projecting platform 22 and 24 extending in a common plane lying normal to the axis 6. Each platform 22 and 24 is buttressed by a corresponding rib 32 and 34 projecting inwardly from a respective support wall 2 and 4 and lying in a plane containing the axis 6. Each platform 22 and 24 carries a respective blade 42 and 44 which is held in another common plane extending at right angles to the axis 6. The blades 42 and 44 may be embedded in the platforms 22 and 24 during manufacture of the device or secured thereto by fastening means (not shown).

In operation, with the cutting device placed on the tube 10 as shown and the hollow spout 8 lying between the two blades 42 and 44, squeezing the two support walls 2 and 4 together will cause the blades to cut into the wall of the spout. Thereafter, rotation of the device will cause the blades to circle round the spout and sever the end of the spout totally from the rest. Releasing the pressure on the support walls 2 and 4 will allow the interconnecting walls to resile to move the support walls and the blades back to their original positions.

It will be appreciated that while two blades 42 and 44 are described, one of the blades can be omitted and replaced by an abutment on the platform to allow the remaining blade to co-act with the reaction provided by the abutment on the opposite side of the spout. Instead, three or more projections may be provided and a corresponding number of blades employed.

In this instance, although not necessarily, one of the two interconnecting walls 18 has U-shaped cutting slot 30 provided in its central section 18. The perimeter of the slot 30 is reinforced by a generally U-shaped wall 36 which supports an auxiliary blade 38 in the bottom of the slot 30 embedded during manufacture of the device or secured thereto by fastening means (not shown).

In this instance, although not necessarily, a pair of struts 46 and 48, lying on opposite sides of the axis 6 and an opposite side of the slot 30, interconnect the two central sections 16A and 18A to provide some rigidity. The auxiliary blade 38 is provided to allow a nozzle which may be subsequently mounted on the spout 8 to be cut to size. In operation, as shown in Figure 4, the end of a nozzle 50 to be cut is lowered into the slot 30, at the required angle and then drawn sharply downwardly so that the blade 38 will slice through the nozzle 50. This can be conveniently done while the cutting device is mounted on the tube and before the spout is severed.

It will be appreciated that while the ribs 32 and 34 are conveniently produced by folds in the respective support walls 2 and 4, for the purpose of supporting the blades 42

and 44 during moulding, they can take the form of solid projections extending from a respective on the walls 2 and 4, and should blades 42 and 44 be subsequently mounted, may be omitted.

The blades 38, 42 and 44 may, optionally, be single or double edged.