TOOL FOR OPENING SHIPPING CONTAINERS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to box-opening tools and, more particularly, to a tool that pierces and separates adhesive tape holding together the flaps of shipping-boxes.

Description of the Related Art

Shipping-boxes are an integral part of today's economy. For most businesses, opening shipping-boxes is an aspect of every day business. Businesses such as grocery stores, hardware stores, and the like, open hundreds if not thousands of boxes daily. A variety of tools are used for this purpose, which can be categorized in two main groups: knives and cutting implements with retractable blades. Each category has its own disadvantages.

Knives are easy to use, but people can as easily injure themselves or their co-workers while using a knife. Damage to clothing and other items while using or storing a knife is also a common problem. Implements with retractable blades, such as utility knives, are less dangerous for storing, because the sharp cutting blade can be retracted; however, during use they are as dangerous as straight knives. Implements with retractable blades are also more difficult to use than knives, especially when people have to move boxes or perform other tasks between opening boxes. Hence, there is a need for a tool that easily and quickly opens the box, is safe to use, is easy to manufacture, and can be safely stored and retrieved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the problem of opening shipping-boxes with a tool that minimizes the risk of injury to users and damage

to clothing and other items during use, is easy to use, is simple to manufacture, and presents little risk of injury or damage when stored.

In accordance with the present invention, a box-opening tool is provided. The tool has an elongated handle portion formed of mutually opposing planar sides, which join together at a sidewall. The tool has a substantially rectangular shape. A corner where the long side and a short side would normally join is beveled to form an angled side that is substantially straight. Extending outward from the angled side is at least one protrusion, and preferably two to five protrusions. The protrusions, having a substantially triangular cross-sectional form when viewed from the side, serve the function of piercing and separating the adhesive tape that holds shipping-boxes together.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above-described tool has a non-symmetrically elliptical planfomn shape. Two arcuate tapered protrusions on each side of the piercing elements provide protection against injury and damage to objects and clothing. A round hole near the sharp apex of the elliptical body of the tool provides for the tool to be attached to a key chain or key ring.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a box- opening tool with substantially rectangular shape and protrusions extending from an angled corner is embedded or mounted with a utility blade and a guide channel cut into the tool's sidewall. In addition to piercing and separating adhesive tape, this tool can cut stronger material such as cardboard.

In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention the tool has a non-symmetrical elliptical shape. As a further aspect, a spring-loaded guard piece is mounted to pivot over the guide channel on each of the mutually opposing planar sides. The guard piece is pushed by applying pressure to expose the cutting edge of the utility device embedded into the tool. In another improvement, the guard piece is released by pressing a release button on one or both of the mutually opposing planar sides. A spring automatically returns the guard piece to the closed position over the embedded utility device, when the utility device exits the material being cut.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a utility device has piercing elements in the form of triangularly shaped protrusions along a portion of one of its angled edges. A sharpened cutting edge, formed between the main cutting edge of the utility device and the protrusions, is designed to lead the device into the material to be cut. The protrusions and the angled cutting edge provide for easy piercing of the material to be cut and leading of the device into the same material.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, an asymmetric utility device is provided that has a longer portion on the side with piercing elements than on the other side as measured from its center. This feature provides for the device to be permanently extended in a utility knife or box cutter. The protrusions are formed the same way as in the device described above. The angled edge between the main cutting edge and the protrusions is, however, not sharpened. Finally, in accordance with a yet further aspect of the present invention, a utility device has triangularly shaped piercing elements and acute- angled guide protrusions along the edges joining the main cutting edge. Having piercing elements along both edges provides extended use of the utility device. When one edge becomes unusable, the user can flip the utility device around and use the other edge to pierce.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric projection of a tool formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A, 2B are top and side views, respectively, of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the piercing elements of the tool of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the tool of Figure 1 in use;

Figures 5A, 5B are top and side views, respectively, of a tool formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6A, 6B are isometric and top views, respectively, of a tool formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention incorporated into a substantially rectangularly-shaped tool;

Figures 7A, 7B are top and side views, respectively, of a tool formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention incorporated into a non-symmetrically, elliptically-shaped tool;

Figures 8A and 8B are top views of another embodiment of the tool of Figures 7A and 7B with a spring-loaded guard and a release button incorporated into the tool; Figure 9 is a top view of a utility device formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with piercing elements and a sharpened, angled edge incorporated on one end;

Figure 10 is a top view of a permanently extended utility device formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a side view of the utility device of Figure 9 in use; and

Figure 12 is the top view of a utility device formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with piercing elements incorporated into two mutually opposing sides of it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring initially to Figures 1-3, shown therein is a tool 10 formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention to pierce and separate the adhesive tape that holds the flaps of shipping-boxes as described in more detail below. In the embodiments described herein, like elements are depicted with identical reference numbers. The tool 10 has an elongated handle portion 12 formed of mutually opposing planar sides 14, 16 that join

together at a sidewall 18. In the depicted embodiment, the handle portion 12 has a substantially rectangular shape. While other shapes may be used, such as square, circular, oval, and the like, it is important that the handle portion is sized and shaped to be firmly yet comfortably gripped by a user's hand. The length and width of the handle portion 12, as shown in Figure

2A, can be selected within a range to accommodate different hand sizes. It is preferable that the handle portion 12 be sized and shaped for placement in a shirt pocket or pants pocket when not in use. The uniform flatness of the elongated handle portion 12 provides for easy and low cost manufacturing of the tool 10, as well as for more comfortable gripping of the tool 10 and ease of storage.

A corner where a long side 19 and a short side 20 would normally join is beveled to form an angled side 22 that is substantially straight. Thus, the angled side 22 joins with the short side 20 and the long side 19. Extending outward from the angled side 22 is at least one protrusion 24, and preferably two to five protrusions 24. The protrusions 24, having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the side, are formed along the length of the angled sidewall 22, as shown in Figures 1 and 2A, to extend outward therefrom a predetermined distance d. The distance d is in the range of 1/16 inch to 5/32 inch, and is preferably at least 1/8 inch. The protrusions 24 are each formed of two planer sides 28 meeting at an angle θ in the range of 60 to 90 degrees to form a blunt edge 29 that functions as a piercing element. The preferred range of the angle θ for the protrusions 24, and thus the bluntness of the edge 29 as shown in Figure 3, is selected to enable penetration and separation of the adhesive tape and yet to prevent inadvertent injury to a user or damage to clothing during storage. The thickness of the box-opening tool 10 as determined by the width of the sidewall 18, shown more clearly in Figure 2B, is preferably in the range of 1/16 inch to 3/32 inch.

In use, a user grasps the handle portion 12 with one hand so that the protrusions 24 project downward and away from the user. As shown in Figure 4, the tool 10 is positioned above the adhesive tape 32 of a shipping-box

34, between the flaps, and with the angled side 22 parallel to the tape 32 to be separated. The protrusions 24 are forced into the tape 32 to pierce the tape 32. The tool 10 is pulled along the length of the tape 32 while applying slight pressure towards the tape 32 to cause the tape 32 to separate. The edges 28 of the protrusions 24 should not be sharpened, since the angle θ of the edges and the slight pressure are sufficient to easily pierce and separate the tape 32.

Figures 5A and 5B depict another embodiment of the present invention where a box-opening tool 66 has a substantially non-symmetrical elliptical planform shape. The piercing elements consist of the protrusions 24, as described above, that are formed on the more obtuse apex of one side of the elliptical shape. The size of the tool 66 and the round hole 36 formed near the sharper apex of the ellipse provide for the tool 66 to be attached to a key chain or key ring. Two arcuate portions 78 of the tool 66 are tapered on each side of the protrusions 24 to extend out as far as the protrusions 24 to provide protection against injury as well as damage to clothing and other items from the protrusions 24.

Figures 6A and 6B show another embodiment of the present invention in which a box-opening tool 68 includes a utility blade 38 embedded or mounted in the handle portion 12 for cutting stronger tapes, cardboard, and the like. While the handle portion 12 of this embodiment has a substantially rectangular shape, other shapes may be used, such as square, circular, oval etc. The blade 38 is inserted into the tool 68 such that the blade 38 is parallel to the mutually opposing planar sides 30, 96 of the tool 68 and positioned with its sharp edge 54 at an angle to the sidewall 84 of the tool 68 to enable the user to hold the tool 68 at best angle for leverage when cutting tape, cardboard, and the like. A guide channel 40 is cut into the sidewall 84 near the protrusions 24 to guide the blade 38 into the material to be cut, such as cardboard and to protect the user from the exposed portion of the blade 38. The blade 38 is mounted inside the housing such that it is exposed only within the guide channel 40. The acute-angled entry point 42 of the guide channel 40 does not

need to be sharp, since the protrusions 24 provide for the function of piercing and separating the tape.

The embodiment of Figures 6A and 6B can have different shapes. One of those, a non-symmetrical ellipse is shown in Figures 7A and 7B. The depicted tool 86 has the same form as the tool of Figures 5A and 5B, including the hole 36 for the key-chain attachment. Similar to the tool 68 of Figures 6A and 6B, a utility blade 38 is mounted in the tool 86, parallel to its mutually opposing planar sides 80, 88. A guide channel 40 formed as an oblong opening, angling inward from the sidewall 84, provides access to the sharp edge 54 of the utility blade 38 for cutting tape, cardboard, and the like. The blade 38 is mounted inside the housing such that it is exposed only within the guide channel 40. The protrusions 24 serve as piercing elements as described above.

Figures 8A and 8B show another tool 98 formed in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. A utility device 44 is embedded or mounted in the handle portion of the tool of Figures 7A and 7B, where the piercing elements 92 are integrated into the utility device 44. An acute-angled corner 60 is formed on the utility device 44, where the piercing elements 92 and the cutting edge 54 join, and it serves as one end of the guide channel 94. To prevent injury to a user and damage to objects and clothing, a spring-loaded guard piece 62 is mounted to pivot over the guide channel 40 on each of the mutually opposing planar sides 80, 88. The guard piece 62 is pushed aside by applying pressure thereto, exposing the cutting edge 54 of the utility device 44. Figure 8B depicts an improvement to the tool 98, where the guard piece 62 is released by pressing a release button 64 on one or both of the mutually opposing planar sides 80, 88. A spring (not shown) automatically returns the guard piece 62 to the closed position over the utility device 44 when the utility device 44 exits the material being cut. The guard piece 62 and release button 64 protection mechanisms can be incorporated into alternative shapes of the same tool 98.

A utility device 90 with integrated piercing elements 50 is another embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 9. Piercing elements 50 along a portion of the angled side edge 72 of the substantially trapezoidally-shaped utility device 90 are formed by protrusions 50, having a substantially triangular cross-sectional form when viewed from the side. Two grooves 48 formed at the center of the short edge 74 of the utility device 90 provide means for fitting the device into most standard utility knives and box cutters. A sharpened cutting edge 52 is formed between the main cutting edge 54 of the utility device 90 and the protrusions 50 to lead the device 90 into the material to be cut. The protrusions 50 and the angled cutting edge 52 provide for easy piercing of the material to be cut and leading of the device 90 into the same material.

Figure 10 depicts a utility device 90 formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The asymmetric device 90 is longer on the side 54 with piercing elements 50 than the other side 74 from a center point. This feature enables the device 90 to be permanently extended from a utility knife or box cutter handle. The protrusions 50 are structured the same way as in the device of Figure 9. The angled edge 56 between the main cutting edge 54 and the protrusions 50 is, however, not sharpened.

As shown in Figure 11 , a user grasps a utility tool 58 with one hand so that the protrusions 50 project downward and away from the user. The tool 58 is positioned above the adhesive tape 32 of a shipping-box. The protrusions 50 are forced into the tape 32 to pierce it. As the tool 58 is pulled along the length of the box 34 while applying slight pressure towards the surface, the angled cutting edge 52 leads the device 90 of Figure 9 into the material to be cut. The material is locked between the acute-angled guide protrusion 76 and the angled cutting edge 52 while being cut.

Figure 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The depicted utility device 44 has piercing elements in the form of protrusions 92 along the full length of its mutually opposing edges adjacent to its main cutting edge 54. The protrusions 92 have a substantially triangular cross- sectional form when viewed from the side. Two acute-angled guide protrusions

60 are also integrated into the utility device 44 on each end of the main cutting edge 54 to guide the material to be cut. Having piercing elements along both edges provides extended use of the utility device 44. When one edge becomes unusable, the user can flip the utility device 44 around and use the other edge to pierce.

Although several preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For instance the shapes of the tools according to different embodiments of the invention can be selected from a range of geometric shapes.