Rotary cutter

Abstract

A rotary cutter which includes an elongated handle having an aperture extending through its one end, a shaft extending through the aperture so as to be supported by the handle, a disc blade rotatably mounted on the shaft and lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a member engageable with the shaft, with a bearing projection formed on the handle coaxially with the aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary cutter comprising: .Iadd.a disc blade having a central opening.Iaddend.;   an elongated handle having.Iadd., at its one end, a platform for rotatably supporting said disc blade, said platform having .Iaddend.an aperture extending .Iadd.therethrough and a bearing means for frictionally supporting an inner surface of said disc blade at only one of a central portion and a peripheral portion of said disc blade said inner surface at the other of said central portion and said peripheral portion being unsupported.Iaddend.; .[.through one end thereof;   said handle being formed with a bearing projection coaxial with said aperture;.].   a shaft .[.having.]. .Iadd.which extends through the central opening of said disc blade and the aperture of said platform and which has, at its one end, .Iaddend.a head portion .[.at one end thereof.]., which .[.extends through said aperture so as to be supported by said handle.]. .Iadd.frictionally supports an outer surface of said disc blade only at the other one of the central portion and the peripheral portion of the disc blade, said outer surface of the one of said central portion and said peripheral portion being unsupported.Iaddend.; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   .[.a disc blade having a central opening, which is rotatably mounted on said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft with said shaft extending through said central opening so that said disc blade may be caused to roll on a material to be cut during a cutting operation;   said disc blade being interposed between said head portion and said bearing projection, said bearing projection and said head portion respectively bearing on said disc blade at radially spaced locations on opposite sides of said disc blade; and.].   a .[.fastening member engageable with.]. .Iadd.securing means for securing .Iaddend.said shaft .[.for urging said head portion against.]. .Iadd.to said platform so as to urge .Iaddend.said disc blade .[.so as to urge said disc blade against said bearing projection, whereby.]. .Iadd.towards said platform such that .Iaddend.said disc blade is subjected to curved elastic deformation .[.between said radially spaced locations and is caused to rotate in the curved state.]..   
     
     
       2. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.is a ring and said head portion is a flat circular head, said ring being larger, in inside diameter, than said flat circular head, whereby .[.a.]. .Iadd.the central .Iaddend.portion of said disc blade adjacent to said central opening is subjected to said curved elastic deformation and .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.peripheral portion of said disc blade outside said ring is held substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.   
     
     
       3. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.is a circular boss having said aperture formed at the center thereof and said head portion is an annular head, .Iadd.having a central opening larger than said circular boss .Iaddend. said circular boss being smaller, in outside diameter, than said annular head,   whereby .[.a.]. .Iadd.the central .Iaddend.portion of said disc blade adjacent to said central opening is subjected to said curved elastic deformation and .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.peripheral portion of said disc blade outside said annular head is held substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.   
     
     
       4. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 2, further including a safety cover having a diameter greater than that of said disc blade, said safety cover having therein a guide slot,   said safety cover being mounted at said one end of said handle, with said shaft extending through said guide slot, for sliding movement in opposite directions longitudinally of said handle between an exposing position, whereat a portion of the periphery of said disc blade is exposed for cutting, and a concealing position, whereat said portion of said periphery is concealed by said safety cover.   
     
     
       5. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said shaft has a threaded stud and said .[.fastening.]. .Iadd.securing .Iaddend.member is a nut engageable with said threaded stud. 
     
     
       6. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, .[.4 or 5.]. .Iadd.or 4 .Iaddend.wherein said shaft has a cut-off portion and said aperture is formed with an aperture projection, whereby said shaft is prevented from rotating through engagement of said cut-off portion by said aperture projection. 
     
     
       7. A rotary cutter as in claim 1, wherein .[.said handle and said head portion define.]. a space .Iadd.is formed .Iaddend.between said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and said head head portion into which the portion of said disc blade subjected to said curved elastic deformation is deformed. 
     
     
       8. A rotary cutter as in claim 2, wherein .[.said handle and said head portion define.]. a space .Iadd.is formed .Iaddend.between said .[.bearing projection.]. .Iadd.ring .Iaddend.and said head portion into which the portion of said disc blade subjected to said curving elastic deformation is deformed. 
     
     
       9. A rotary cutter as in claim 3, wherein .[.said handle and said head portion define.]. a space between said .[.bearing projection.]. .Iadd.boss .Iaddend.and said head portion into which the portion of said disc blade subjected to said curved elastic deformation is deformed. 
     
     
       10. A rotary cutter as in claim 1, wherein said shaft is nonrotatably mounted to said handle so that said disc blade is rotatable relative to said shaft and said handle. 
     
     
       11. A rotary cutter as in claim 1, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.is fixed against rotation with said disc blade. 
     
     
       12. A rotary cutter as in claim 1, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and said head portion bear on said disc blade only at said .[.radially spaced locations.]. .Iadd.central portion and said peripheral portion.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       13. A rotary cutter as in claim 7, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and said head portion bear on said disc blade only at said .[.radially spaced locations.]. .Iadd.central portion and said peripheral portion.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       14. A rotary cutter as in claim 8, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and said head portion bear on said disc blade only at said .[.radially spaced locations.]. .Iadd.central portion and said peripheral portion.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       15. A rotary cutter as in claim 9, wherein said bearing .[.projection.]. .Iadd.boss.Iaddend. and said head portion bear on said disc blade only at said .[.radially spaced locations.]. .Iadd.central portion and said peripheral portion.Iaddend.. .Iadd.16. A rotary cutter as claimed in claim 5, wherein said shaft has a cut-off portion and said aperture is formed with an aperture projection, whereby said shaft is prevented from rotating through engagement of said cut-off portion by said aperture projection..Iaddend.