Tourne cutting method and device

Abstract

A cutting device holds an article to be cut stationary while a blade is traversed along a curved guide to peel or slice away material from the article. The article may be rotated using an indexing mechanism to realign the article with respect to the blade. The cutting device is especially configured to cut complex shapes, such as a seven-sided tourné. Portions of the cutting device may be separated for storage or travel, and a storage container may be provided to protect the device as well as to keep the separated pieces together.

1 . A method of cutting an article using a cutting device, comprising:
 removably fixing the article to a base portion of the device;   removably fixing the article to a cutting portion of the device, the cutting portion comprising a blade guide;   moving a blade along the blade guide from a start position to slice through a portion of the article with a first pass of the blade along the blade guide;   returning said blade to said start position;   rotating the article relative to the cutting portion; and   moving the blade along the blade guide from the start position to slice through a second portion of the article with a second pass of the blade along the blade guide.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rotating the article comprises disengaging an engagement mechanism that fixes the position of the article relative to the cutting portion. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fixing the article to a base portion comprises inserting a first pin into the article, the first pin connected to the base portion, and wherein fixing the article to a cutting portion comprises inserting a second pin into the article, the second pin connected to the cutting portion. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is handheld. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blade guide is curved. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a needle-shaped holder and an indexing mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting portion further comprises a support arm attached to the blade guide, with a needle-shaped holder contacting the support arm. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of moving the blade along the blade guide to slice through the article and rotating the article relative to the cutting portion after slicing through the article are repeated to form a shape with seven curved sides. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the article has approximately flat surfaces where the article is fixed to the cutting portion and base portion. 
   
   
       10 . A tourné formed according to the method of  claim 8 . 
   
   
       11 . A cutting device for cutting an article, comprising:
 a base portion comprising (a) a first holder to which the article is removably attached and (b) an indexing mechanism; and   a cutting portion connectable to the base portion, said cutting portion comprising (a) a curved blade guide having a top portion and a bottom portion, (b) a support arm attached to the blade guide, and (c) a needle-shaped second holder contacting the support arm and to which the article is removably attached;   wherein the first and second holders hold the article stationary relative to the base portion when cutting said article with a blade that travels along the curved blade guide from the top portion to the bottom portion, and wherein the indexing mechanism permits rotation of the article relative to the cutting portion before executing a cut with the blade.   
   
   
       12 . The cutting device of  claim 11 , wherein the indexing mechanism comprises a circular dial with engagement portions and a spring-loaded pin or indexing pin for engaging the engagement portions. 
   
   
       13 . The cutting device of  claim 11 , wherein the blade guide has a tapered cross-section which has a minimum width at the point contacting the blade. 
   
   
       14 . The cutting device of  claim 11 , wherein the base portion comprises an upper mounting plate and a lower control plate, with the upper mounting plate and the lower control plate connected so as to at least partially enclose the indexing mechanism. 
   
   
       15 . The cutting device of  claim 11 , wherein the second holder is rotatable about its lengthwise axis and relative to the cutting portion. 
   
   
       16 . The cutting device of  claim 11 , wherein the first holder is insertable into the article to prevent relative movement between the article and the indexing mechanism.