Device for cutting welded wire structures

This application is based upon and claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/163,889 filed on Nov. 5, 1999 and entitled “Device for cutting welded wire structures”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is generally directed to a novel device for cutting welded wire structures. More particularly, the invention contemplates a novel device which cuts a wire of a welded wire structure to form a clean, burr-free cut.

Prior art wire cutters pinch the wire to sever the wire. Cutting the wire with this type of wire cutter can leave a surface which has burrs thereon. Burrs are obviously undesirable.

The present invention provides a device which overcomes this problem and which provides advantages over the prior art, such advantages will become clear upon a reading of the attached specification in combination with a study of the drawings.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is to provide a device for cutting welded wire structures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which cuts a wire of a welded wire structures to form a clean, burr-free cut.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is easy to use.

Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, the present invention discloses a device for cutting a welded wire structure. The welded wire structure includes a first wire and a second wire which are joined together and are offset relative to each other. The device includes a first arm pivotally connected to a second arm. The first arm includes a handle and a jaw connected thereto. The second arm includes a handle and a jaw connected thereto. The jaws are offset from each other. The jaw of the first arm includes a U-shaped portion into which the first wire is capable of being positioned during cutting. The jaw of the second arm includes a notch provided in a surface thereof which faces the jaw of the first arm. The second wire is capable of being positioned within the notch during cutting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a device which incorporates the features of the invention in an open position;

FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of the device of

FIG. 1

in a closed position;

FIG. 3

is a partial perspective view of welded wire structure which the device is used to cut; and

FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of the device in the open position showing the position of the wires therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.

The present invention is a device

20

which is used to cut a welded wire structure

22

, such as a basket-type cable tray or a livestock panel. The device

20

of the present invention shears a wire in the wire structure

22

to form a clean, burr-free cut.

As shown in

FIG. 4

, the welded wire structure

22

includes a first set of round wires

24

which extend in a first direction and which are parallel to each other and are spaced apart from each other, and a second set of round wires.

26

which extend in a second direction which is offset from the first direction and which are spaced apart from each other. As shown, the wires

24

,

26

are generally perpendicular to each other. Each wire

26

in the second set is welded to the wires

24

in the first set over which it crosses.

The device

20

includes a pair of arms

28

,

30

. Each arm

28

,

30

has first and second opposite ends and are fastened together at a hinge joint

32

along the length of the arms

28

,

30

such that the arms

28

,

30

can be brought proximate to each other or can be spread apart from each other by rotation around the hinge joint

32

.

A handle

34

,

36

is provided at the respective first end of each arm

28

,

30

. The handles

34

,

36

are gripped by a user to actuate the device

20

. A metal jaw

38

,

40

is provided at the respective second end of each arm

28

,

30

. Jaw

38

is connected to handle

34

by a connection portion

42

. Jaw

40

is connected to handle

36

by a connection portion

44

. The hinge joint

32

hingedly connects the connection portions

42

,

44

together. Jaw

40

is shorter than jaw

38

to reduce the amount of material used to make the device

20

. With regard to the arm

28

, the handle

34

is on one side of the hinge joint

32

(shown on the left in the drawings) and the jaw

38

is on the other side of the hinge joint

32

(shown on the right in the drawings). With regard to the arm

30

, the handle

36

is on one side of the hinge joint

32

(shown on the right in the drawings) and the jaw

40

is on the other side of the hinge joint

32

(shown on the left in the drawings). In addition, the jaws

38

,

40

are offset from each other as described herein.

The jaw

40

on the arm

30

includes a generally flat outer side surface

46

and a generally flat inner side surface (not shown). The outer side surface

46

and the inner side surface are parallel to each other and are joined together by an inner surface

48

and an outer surface

50

.

The inner surface

48

is used to position the wire, for example wire

24

, which is to be cut and is used to cut the wire

24

. The inner surface

48

has a generally flat portion

54

which extends from the end of the jaw

40

to a point which is spaced from the hinge joint

32

and a generally U-shaped portion

56

which is integrally formed therewith, transitions smoothly therewith, and which is proximate to the hinge joint

32

. The wire

24

that is to be cut is positioned within the U-shaped portion

56

, see

FIG. 4

, during cutting.

The jaw

38

on the arm

28

includes a generally flat inner side surface

58

and a generally flat outer side surface (not shown). The inner side surface

58

and the outer side surface are parallel to each other and are joined together by an inner surface

60

and an outer surface

62

. The inner surface

60

is generally flat.

The inner side surface

58

includes an elongated curved notch

64

therein which extends across the width of the jaw

38

. The wire

26

which is offset from the wire

24

which is to be cut is positioned within the curved notch

64

during cutting. The portion

60

a

of the inner surface

60

which is between the notch

64

and the hinge joint

32

abuts against the wire

24

which is to be cut. The notch

64

is sized such that the wire

26

can be held completely therewith.

The jaws

38

,

40

are offset from each other such that when the handles

34

,

36

are brought together, the inner surface

58

of jaw

38

and the inner surface (not shown) of jaw

40

align with each other, but do not overlap each other.

During cutting as shown in

FIG. 4

, the device

20

is engaged with the wire structure

22

by opening the jaws

38

,

40

and engaging jaw

38

against the wire

26

which is to remain uncut and sliding the wire

26

along the jaw

38

until the wire is seated within the notch

64

in the jaw

38

. As such, the elongated jaw

38

acts as a guide for properly positioning the wire

26

. The notch

64

is sized such that the cross wire

26

sits completely therein and does not protrude outwardly from the inner side surface

58

. Jaw

40

is on the opposite side of the wire

26

. The wire

24

that is to be cut is positioned in the U-shaped portion

56

of the inner surface

48

of the jaw

40

. The portion

60

a

of the inner surface

60

of the jaw

38

between the notch

64

and the hinge joint

32

abuts against the wire

24

which is to be cut at a position which is proximate to the cutting location.

The arm

30

is then moved relative to the arm

28

such that the jaw

40

moves toward the jaw

38

. The jaw

38

bears against the wire

24

which is to be cut and, as such, cannot move. As this movement of the arm

30

is undertaken, the inner surface

48

of jaw

40

shears the wire

24

at the point proximate to the cross wire

26

and proximate to the point where the wires

24

and

26

are welded together (such that weld is not sheared). The device

20

of the present invention shears the wire

24

to form a clean, burr-free cut.

While the wires

24

,

26

are shown as generally perpendicular to each other, it is to be understood that other angular configurations can be provided, with the notch

64

being correspondingly oriented.

Jaw

40

can also have a recess (not shown) provided in its outer side surface

46

to further reduce the amount of material required to form the jaw

40

. The provision of the recess reduces the thickness of the inner surface

48

proximate thereto relative to the remainder of the jaw

40

. The reduced thickness of jaw

40

as a result of the recess can aid in shearing the wire

24

.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.