Cutting tool equipped with a device for applying a treatment product

Abstract

A cutting instrument (1) comprising a cutting tool (2) provided with a movable blade (21) and a fixed blade (22), which are pivotably connected, and with a gripping handle (24), and an application device (3) mounted on the cutting tool in order to apply a fluid treatment product to the movable blade, wherein this application device comprises a support (4) mounted on the gripping handle and supporting two applicators (6) impregnated with the treatment product, said applicators being arranged facing each other so that the two lateral faces (210) of the movable blade are in contact with the applicators when it is in its open position, and so that the movable blade is at least partially disengaged from the applicators in order to cooperate with the fixed blade when it is in its closed position.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Cutting tool equipped with a device for applying a treatment product

[0003] [Technical field]

[0004] The invention relates to a cutting tool provided with two blades and equipped with an application device for applying a fluid treatment product to one of the two blades, such as a healing product, a disinfectant product or a weedkiller product for plants.

[0005] The invention finds a preferred application in the preventive or curative treatment of plants, such as fruit trees and vines, and also in limiting the development of invasive plants, such as weeds or brambles.

[0006] [State of the art]

[0007] It is well known that when pruning a plant, such as a fruit tree or a vine, the pruner sometimes applies a fluid treatment product, such as a healing product and / or a disinfectant, to the fresh cut in order to protect the plant exposed to the cut. This operation is often done manually and is cumbersome.

[0008] In certain arboricultural or viticultural activities, it is recommended to disinfect the blades of the cutting tool between each pruning or at least between each plant (tree or vine), in order to avoid the spread of possible bacteria or other microorganisms between the plants.

[0009] To facilitate these operations, it is known from document FR2527419A1 to equip the cutting tool with a device for projecting the treatment product comprising a nozzle directed towards the blades and connected to a pressurized container associated with a pump which is activated when the blades close. Such a solution has the disadvantage of inevitably spreading the treatment product during projection, which can be a problem depending on the nature of the treatment product; not to mention product waste.

[0010] It is also known from document FR2584261 to use a projection device which uses a container associated with a pump and in communication with a conduit arranged partly in one of the two blades; always with the disadvantage of inevitably spreading treatment product during projection, not to mention the complexity and the additional cost of arranging a conduit in the blade. Document FR2122355 also proposes to implement a spraying of treatment product via channels arranged in one of the two blades, which has the same disadvantages as for the solution of document FR2584261.

[0011] The cutting tools proposed in the above-mentioned documents also have the common disadvantage of having to design a specific cutting tool, which does not allow a user or manufacturer to simply modify / adapt their own standard cutting tool to allow spraying / projection of treatment product.

[0012] Document EP0259478 partially addresses this problem by offering a solution that consists of removably mounting a dispenser on the cutting tool, this dispenser being provided with a container filled with treatment product and connected to a pipe provided with a porous plug to regulate the flow towards the blades. However, provision is made to use a screw to fix the dispenser on the cutting tool, which requires drilling a threaded hole that cannot be made in all cutting tools. Furthermore, this solution is impractical because the dispenser is bulky and particularly inconvenient for the user, in particular when he has to prune in the middle of branches.

[0013] The state of the art can also be illustrated by the teachings of document KR 2020 0080789 A which proposes to mount, on the axis of a pruning shears, a support on which is fixed a foam impregnated with a product, the foam being thus arranged to come into contact with the cut area of ​​the plant. This solution proves however to be impractical, because the mounting of the support on the axis requires dismantling the pruning shears when one wants to replace the foam. Furthermore, the fact of using a single foam does not allow the product to be applied to the cut area of ​​the plant in any cutting position, whether one is right-handed or left-handed.

[0014] [Summary of the invention]

[0015] The invention aims to solve all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing an application device for applying a fluid treatment product to the two blades of a cutting tool, which is of simple design and practical in use.

[0016] Another aim of the invention is to be able to easily adapt the application device to different cutting tools; in other words, to propose a solution which does not require modifying or adapting the cutting tool.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the replacement of the application device, without having to dismantle the cutting tool.

[0018] To this end, the invention provides a cutting instrument comprising a cutting tool provided with a movable blade and a fixed blade, which fixed blade is fixedly mounted on a gripping handle and which movable blade is rotatably connected to the fixed blade such that the movable blade is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the movable blade has two opposite side faces joined by a cutting edge, which cutting instrument further comprises an application device mounted on the cutting tool and shaped to apply a fluid treatment product to the movable blade.

[0019] According to the invention, this cutting instrument is remarkable in that the application device comprises a support mounted on the gripping handle and supporting two applicators impregnated with the fluid treatment product, in which the two applicators are arranged facing each other and separated by an interstitial space so that the movable blade extends at least partially inside said interstitial space so that its two opposite lateral faces are in contact with the two respective applicators when it is in its open position, and that the movable blade is at least partially disengaged from said applicators and extends at least partially outside said interstitial space to cooperate with the fixed blade when it is in its closed position.

[0020] Thus, the invention proposes to deposit the fluid treatment product on the two lateral faces of the movable blade, by contact with two applicators which are impregnated with this fluid treatment product, and not by projection or spraying, which is advantageous because it avoids spreading or projecting the fluid treatment product, in particular if this treatment product is a weedkiller.

[0021] In operation, when the movable blade is in the open position, its two lateral faces are in contact with the two respective applicators, which thus deposit films of fluid treatment product on these lateral faces of the movable blade, and the user can make his cut by closing the movable blade impregnated with treatment product, without risk of leakage.

[0022] So, whatever the cutting position, and whether you are right-handed or left-handed, the side that comes into contact with the fresh cut of the plant on the root side will inevitably be covered by the treatment product.

[0023] Finally, the application device only requires mounting the holder on the grip handle, so it is possible to adapt the shape of the holder to different standard cutting tools, without the need to modify or adapt these cutting tools.

[0024] In operation, when the movable blade is in the open position, it is wedged between the two applicators and its two lateral faces are in contact with the latter, which thus deposit a film of fluid treatment product on the two opposite lateral faces of the movable blade, and the user can make his cut by closing the movable blade impregnated with treatment product, without risk of leakage.

[0025] Advantageously, the movable blade extends completely inside said interstitial space and in contact with the two applicators when it is in its open position.

[0026] In this way, the moving blade will have its two opposite faces completely moistened with the treatment product.

[0027] According to one feature, the bracket is detachably mounted on the grip handle.

[0028] Thus, the application device can be easily installed and removed, so that it can be used on different cutting tools, as long as the cutting tools are dimensionally close or similar to receive the support.

[0029] Alternatively, the bracket includes a clamp comprising two wings shaped for snap-fit ​​mounting on the grip handle.

[0030] Thus, the clamp allows for assembly by interlocking, or even by snapping, with wings adapted to deform elastically when mounted on the grip handle.

[0031] Alternatively, both wings each have a termination with a folded edge.

[0032] These folded edges therefore facilitate attachment, by snapping, to the grip handle.

[0033] In a particular embodiment, each of the two applicators is mounted on a cassette which is itself detachably mounted on the support.

[0034] This makes it easy to remove the applicator (or each of the two applicators), either to replace it or to re-soak it in treatment product after a certain period of time.

[0035] In the embodiment with two applicators, the two cassettes can be independent, thus allowing each of the two applicators to be detached alone, or alternatively the two cassettes are integral so that the two applicators detach together.

[0036] Alternatively, each cassette is slidably mounted on the support.

[0037] Thus, it is sufficient to slide the cassette with the applicator to mount it on the support, without difficulty for the user. According to one possibility, each cassette comprises a slide engaged on a rail secured to the support, or conversely each cassette comprises a rail engaged in a slide secured to the support.

[0038] In a particular embodiment, the support comprises at least one magnet, and possibly at least two magnets.

[0039] Thus, the holder can be attached, at least in part, by magnetization to the grip handle. The magnet or each magnet can, for example, be made of neodymium.

[0040] According to one variant, the movable blade is a cutting blade, and the fixed blade is a folding blade or a counter-blade, for example notched.

[0041] In a particular embodiment, each of the two applicators comprises at least one layer of absorbent material, such as for example a layer of porous or fibrous material, a layer of foam, a layer of blotting paper or a layer of bristles forming a brush.

[0042] Depending on the possibility, the fluid treatment product is a healing product, a disinfectant product or a weedkiller product for plants.

[0043] In a first embodiment, the cutting tool is a manual tool and the movable blade is secured to an actuating handle mounted movably on the gripping handle.

[0044] Thus, the user grasps the gripping handle to hold the cutting tool, and acts with one or more fingers on the actuating handle to open / close the movable blade; advantageously a return member, such as a spring, acts on the movable blade to return it to the open position.

[0045] In a second embodiment, the cutting tool is a power tool such that the movable blade is driven by an electric motor via a transmission mechanism, which electric motor is activated / deactivated by means of a trigger mounted on the grip handle.

[0046] Thus, the user grasps the grip handle to hold the cutting tool, and acts with one or more fingers on the trigger to open / close the movable blade; the electric motor being advantageously electrically powered by a battery mounted on the cutting tool or remote from the cutting tool.

[0047] The invention also relates to an application device for applying a fluid treatment product to a movable blade of a cutting tool, this application device comprising a support shaped to be mounted on a grip handle of the cutting tool, and supporting two applicators impregnated with the fluid treatment product, the two applicators being arranged opposite each other and separated by an interstitial space. Indeed, the application device can be independent of the cutting tool, and in particular it can be adapted to a standard cutting tool.

[0048] The invention also relates to a method of cutting a plant using a cutting instrument according to the invention, in which the plant is positioned between the movable blade and the fixed blade with the movable blade in the open position so that this movable blade has its two opposite lateral faces in contact with the two respective applicators in order to deposit the fluid treatment product on each of said lateral faces of the movable blade, then closing the movable blade to cooperate with the fixed blade in the closed position and cutting said plant by transmitting fluid treatment product to it by contact; and this regardless of the cutting position, and whether one is right-handed or left-handed.

[0049] [Brief description of the figures]

[0050] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, of a non-limiting example of implementation, made with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0051] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a cutting tool, here a pruning shear, which is in the open position, and of an application device ready to be mounted on the cutting tool to form a cutting instrument according to the invention;

[0052] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the cutting tool in the open position and having the application device mounted thereon to together form the cutting instrument, where the application device is transparent to enable viewing of the moving blade of the cutting tool;

[0053] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the cutting tool in the intermediate position and on which the application device is mounted, which is again transparent;

[0054] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the cutting tool in the closed position and on which the application device is mounted, which is again transparent;

[0055] Figure 5 is a schematic view from three separate viewing angles of a support for another application device according to the invention;

[0056] Figure 6 is a schematic view of an applicator and a receiving cassette of such an applicator for the holder of Figure 5, the receiving cassette being illustrated from two separate viewing angles;

[0057] Figure 7 is a schematic view of the other application device when mounted on the cutting tool.

[0058] [Detailed description of embodiments of the invention] With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a cutting instrument 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises two components to be assembled, which are a cutting tool 2 and an application device 3.

[0059] In the example illustrated, the cutting tool 2 is a manual pruning shear which is equipped with a movable blade 21 (here a cutting blade) and a fixed blade 22 (here a folding blade or a counter-blade, for example notched) connected in a pivoting manner and extended respectively by an actuating handle 23 and a gripping handle 24.

[0060] The fixed blade 22 is fixedly mounted on the gripping handle 24, in the extension thereof, and the assembly formed by the movable blade 21 and the actuating handle 23 is rotatably connected to the gripping handle 24 and therefore to the fixed blade 22, so that the movable blade 21 is movable between an open position (illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2) and a closed position (illustrated in Figure 4) by acting on the handles 22, 23.

[0061] Referring to Figure 1, the movable blade 21 has two opposite side faces 210 joined by a cutting edge 211; only one of the two side faces 210 being visible in this Figure 1.

[0062] The application device 3 is mounted in a detachable (or removable) manner on the cutting tool 2 and is shaped to apply to the movable blade 21 (and more precisely to each of the two opposite lateral faces 210 of the movable blade 21) a fluid treatment product, such as for example a healing product, a disinfectant product or a weedkiller product intended for plants.

[0063] This application device 3 comprises a support 4 mounted detachably on the gripping handle 24, integral with the fixed blade 22. This support 4 may be in the form of an arch mounted astride the gripping handle 24 and, for this purpose, it comprises a “U”-shaped clamp comprising two wings 40 shaped for fitting by interlocking on the gripping handle 24; the two wings 40 each having an end with a folded edge 41, as visible in Figure 5.

[0064] According to one possibility, the support 4 supports at least one magnet 42, and for example a magnet 42 on each wing 40, for magnetic fixing which improves the hold on the gripping handle 24.

[0065] The application device 3 also comprises two cassettes 5 removably mounted on the support 4 and which each support an applicator 6 impregnated with the fluid treatment product. Thus, the support 4 supports two applicators 6 impregnated with the fluid treatment product, and these two applicators 6 are detachably mounted on the support 4. The two cassettes 5 form rigid boxes for the two respective applicators 6 which can each be formed of at least one layer of absorbent material, such as for example a layer of porous or fibrous material, a layer of foam, a layer of blotting paper or a layer of bristles forming a brush.

[0066] The two cassettes 5 can be slidably mounted on the support 4, and for example each cassette 5 comprises a slide 50 engaged on a rail 43 of the support 4.

[0067] Each cassette 5 has a cavity 51 inside which the applicator 6 is mounted, and this cavity 51 is open on a lateral face so that the applicator 6 emerges and even protrudes from this lateral face. Thus, the applicator 6 protrudes from the cassette 5 by a given thickness, for example of the order of 1 to 8 millimeters.

[0068] Once the cassettes 5 are mounted on the support 4, the two applicators 6 are arranged facing each other and are separated by an interstitial space 60 so that the movable blade 21, when it is in its open position, extends at least partially inside this interstitial space 60 and its two lateral faces 210 are in contact with the two respective applicators 6.

[0069] As can be seen in Figure 2, when the movable blade 21 is in its open position, it is even completely placed between the two applicators 6. The spacing E between the two applicators 6 is less than or equal to the thickness of the movable blade 21, so that the two opposite lateral faces 210 of the movable blade 21 are in contact with these two applicators 6, and thus a film of the fluid treatment product is deposited on each of its two opposite lateral faces 210 of the movable blade 21.

[0070] And furthermore, as visible in Figure 4, the movable blade 21, when it is in its closed position, extends at least partially outside this interstitial space 60 to cooperate with the fixed blade 22. Thus, in the closed position, the movable blade 21 is at least partially disengaged from the two applicators 6 in order to cooperate with the fixed blade 22.

[0071] Thus, in use, during cutting of a plant by means of such a cutting instrument 1, the plant is positioned between the movable blade 21 and the fixed blade 22 with the movable blade 21 in the open position so that this movable blade 21 extends inside the interstitial space 60 and in contact with the two applicators 6 in order to deposit the fluid treatment product on the two opposite lateral faces 210 of the movable blade 21. Then, the user closes the movable blade 21, to cooperate with the fixed blade 22 in the closed position and thus cut the plant by transmitting fluid treatment product to it by contact.

[0072] Such a solution is therefore particularly advantageous, because it promotes the deposition of the fluid treatment product on the plant (and more specifically on the fresh cut of the plant), it limits the risks of spreading the fluid treatment product into the environment, it allows the mobile blade 21 to be treated automatically between each cut, and it is also easy to replace the applicators 6 to, for example, change the treatment product, or to refill the applicators 6 with treatment product when they are dry.

[0073] It should be noted that the above description is made with reference to a cutting tool 2 of the manual pruning shears type, such that the closing of the movable blade 21 is done by manually acting on the actuating handle 23. However, the invention can also be envisaged with an electric cutting tool, in which the movable blade 21 is driven by an electric motor via a transmission mechanism. In this variant, a trigger is mounted on the gripping handle 24 and is connected to the electric motor, so that the closing / opening of the movable blade 21 is done by acting on the trigger in order to activate / deactivate the electric motor.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Cutting instrument (1) comprising a cutting tool (2) provided with a movable blade (21) and a fixed blade (22), which fixed blade (22) is fixedly mounted on a gripping handle (24) and which movable blade (21) is rotatably connected to the fixed blade (22) so that the movable blade (21) is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the movable blade (21) has two opposite side faces (210) joined by a cutting edge (211), which cutting instrument (1) further comprising an application device (3) mounted on the cutting tool (2) and shaped to apply a fluid treatment product to the movable blade (21), said cutting instrument (1) being characterized in that the application device (3) comprises a support (4) mounted on the gripping handle (24) and supporting two applicators (6) impregnated with the fluid treatment product,in which the two applicators (6) are arranged facing each other and separated by an interstitial space (60) so that the movable blade (21) extends at least partially inside said interstitial space (60) so that its two opposite lateral faces (210) are in contact with the two respective applicators (6) when it is in its open position, and that the movable blade (21) is at least partially disengaged from said applicators (6) and extends at least partially outside said interstitial space (60) to cooperate with the fixed blade (22) when it is in its closed position., 2. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 1, wherein the movable blade (21) extends completely inside said interstitial space (60) and in contact with the two applicators (6) when it is in its open position.

3. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder (4) is detachably mounted on the gripping handle (24).

4. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support (4) comprises a clamp comprising two wings (40) shaped for snap-fit ​​mounting on the gripping handle (24).

5. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 4, wherein the two wings (40) each have a termination with a folded edge (41).

6. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two applicators (6) is mounted on a cassette (5) which is itself detachably mounted on the support (4).

7. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 6, wherein each cassette (5) is slidably mounted on the support (4).

8. Cutting instrument (1) according to claim 7, in which each cassette (5) comprises a slide (50) engaged on a rail (43) secured to the support (4), or conversely each cassette (5) comprises a rail engaged in a slide secured to the support (4).

9. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (4) comprises at least one magnet (42).

10. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the movable blade (21) is a cutting blade, and the fixed blade (22) is a folding blade or a counter-blade, for example notched.

11. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the cutting tool (2) is a hand tool and the movable blade (21) is integral with an actuating handle (23) movably mounted on the gripping handle (24).

12. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cutting tool (2) is an electric tool such that the movable blade (21) is driven by an electric motor via a transmission mechanism, which electric motor is activated / deactivated by means of a trigger mounted on the gripping handle (24).

13. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the two applicators (6) comprises at least one layer of absorbent material, such as for example a layer of porous or fibrous material, a layer of foam, a layer of blotting paper or a layer of bristles forming a brush.

14. Cutting instrument (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fluid treatment product is a healing product, a disinfectant product or a weedkiller product intended for plants.

15. Application device (3) for applying a fluid treatment product to a movable blade (21) of a cutting tool (2), said application device (3) comprising a support (4) shaped to be mounted on a gripping handle (24) of the cutting tool (2), and supporting two applicators (6) impregnated with the fluid treatment product, the two applicators (6) being arranged opposite each other and separated by an interstitial space (60).

16. A method of cutting a plant using a cutting instrument (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the plant is positioned between the movable blade (21) and the fixed blade (22) with the movable blade (21) in the open position so that this movable blade (21) has its two opposite lateral faces (210) in contact with the two respective applicators (6) in order to deposit the fluid treatment product on each of said lateral faces (210) of the movable blade (21), then closing the movable blade (21) to cooperate with the fixed blade (22) in the closed position and cutting said plant by transmitting fluid treatment product to it by contact.

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