Cutting tool

Claim 1

A cutting tool, comprising: (a) one-piece plastic tongs having a substantially U-shaped torsion spring portion and two integral leg portions extending therefrom and terminating in free ends, each said leg portion having a cutting blade mounting surface adjacent said free end; (b) a pair of cooperating, flat, cutting blade members mounted on said cutting blade mounting surfaces and having a cutting surface projecting beyond said free ends, said cutting blade members being oppositely angularly disposed along their length and width with respect to one another as to provide crossover and clearance of said cutting surfaces for a cutting operation; and (c) disengageable stop means operable, when engaged, to limit relative movement of said legs; (d) said tongs having a normal, fully open position in which said stop means is disengaged and said leg portions are urged by said torsion spring portion to their furthest separation, and second and third positions of lesser separation in which said stop means is engaged and said legs are in side-by-side relationship with said mounting surfaces facing one another, the cutting surfaces being exposed for cutting in said second position and not exposed in said third position, the blade members being operable to perform said cutting operation as the legs are moved together from said second position to said third position; and (e) said torsion spring portion being operable to apply torsion forces to said legs to urge said blade members together in cutting relationship as the cutting operation is performed and to return said tongs from said third position to said second position, said stop means, when engaged, stopping the returning legs at said second position.