Apparatus for repairing a wall covering

Abstract

A cutting implement has a body with a top and a bottom and one or more blades extending outwardly of the bottom and defining a closed cutting path. In one embodiment, the implement has a cutting depth control. The cutting implement is particularly useful in cutting sections of wall covering. During use, the cutting implement is located adjacent a wall covering so that the blade(s) surround a damaged portion of the covering. Force applied to the top of the implement drives the blade(s) into the covering, creating a severed portion including the damaged area. The severed portion is removed and is preferably replaced by a replacement section of the same size cut with the implement from replacement wall covering.

1 . A cutting implement comprising: 
 a body having a top and a bottom;    a stop;    one or more blades extending from said bottom of said body, said one or more blades defining a continuous closed cutting path around a defined area;    wherein when said one or more blades are located adjacent a material to be cut and a force is applied to said top of said body generally in the direction of said bottom of said body, said one or more blades are driven into said material, whereby said defined area of material is cut; and    wherein said stop permits said one or more blades to extend into said material no more than a first distance.    
   
   
       2 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said stop is formed by said bottom.  
   
   
       3 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a depth of said body is variable to allow said stop to permit said one or more blades to extend into said material no more than said first distance.  
   
   
       4 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said stop is a member connected to said body permitting said one or more blades to extend into said material no more than said first distance.  
   
   
       5 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said stop is movable towards and away from said bottom permitting said one or more blades to extend into said material no more than said first distance.  
   
   
       6 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said stop is mounted to a threaded support which engages said body, whereby rotation of said threaded support moves said stop towards and away from said bottom.  
   
   
       7 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said stop is mounted to a first end of said threaded support and further comprising an input wheel mounted to a second end of said threaded support, said input wheel configured to be engaged by a user.  
   
   
       8 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said top of said body is generally planar and configured to transmit a force applied generally transverse thereto.  
   
   
       9 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein one blade defines said closed cutting path.  
   
   
       10 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said closed cutting path is generally square.  
   
   
       11 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 10  wherein four blades define said closed cutting path.  
   
   
       12 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said closed cutting path is generally circular.  
   
   
       13 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said one or more blades are connected to said bottom of said body.  
   
   
       14 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said body is solid.  
   
   
       15 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a handle extending from said body configured to be grasped by a user of said cutting implement.  
   
   
       16 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said body defines at least one side and said handle extends from said at least one side.  
   
   
       17 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said one or more blades are connected to a mount attached to said body.  
   
   
       18 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said mount is removably attached to said body.  
   
   
       19 . The cutting implement in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the said one or more blades are movable towards and away from said bottom permitting said one or more blades to extend into said material no more than a fifth distance.