Other

Sulzer Calcitek Inc.

Richard L Lariviere, Jr

D Marie Lariviere

William R Wagner

Scott D Slabbekoorn

A cutting template for use in cutting a geometric shape or pattern, such as an oval, of any size, into or out of a selected medium. A preferred embodiment configured according to the invention includes a transparent or translucent sheet with two or more grooves therein that generally define a selected geometric pattern, and additional grooves in the sheet define one or more similar patterns that differ in size, with the several different size patterns being arranged in a nested relationship. The grooves serve as guide channels for a cutting instrument that extends directly through the channels into cutting relation with an underlying medium, thereby eliminating any need for separately tracing the desired pattern onto the medium. Different embodiments of the invention have sets of grooves which define different shapes.

Cutting template and method of using same

Circle cutting template

Hexagon cutting template

Oval cutting template

Star cutting template

Square cutting template

A knife for drawing along a cutting channel in a template defining a puzzle piece outline, so as to cut an underlying workpiece along lines conforming to the shape of the puzzle piece outline to form a puzzle piece from the workpiece. The knife includes a handle portion, a hollow nose portion mounted on the handle portion, a blade mounting portion contained by the nose portion and rotatable therein and extending distally therefrom, and a cutting blade mounted on the blade mounting portion and extending distally therefrom. The cutting blade includes a leading edge, a longer trailing edge, and a cutting edge extending therebetween. In its preferred form the knife includes a shield that is disposed forwardly of the leading edge of the cutting blade and extends along at least a portion of the length of the leading edge of that blade. The cutting blade and shield are dimensioned to enter and move along the cutting channel of a template, with the cutting edge engaging the workpiece for the forming of the puzzle piece and the shield coacting with the sides of the channel to prevent the cutting edge from cutting into the template.

Knife for moving along a channel in a template to form a puzzle piece

A novel method of manufacturing collage puzzle pieces comprising the steps of: (a) providing a template in sheet form having a plurality of channels in the form of line perforations so as to define a plurality of puzzle pieces patterns, the channels being interrupted at selected locations so that at least one portion of each puzzle piece pattern is connected to at least one adjacent puzzle piece pattern; (b) mounting at least one selected graphic art object on an adhesive-coated substrate so as to form a workpiece; (c) assembling the workpiece and the template so that the template overlies the at least one graphic art object; (d) drawing a cutting blade along the full length of each channel defining a selected puzzle piece pattern so as to cut the underlying workpiece along lines conforming to the shape and location of the selected puzzle piece pattern, whereby to form a connected puzzle piece in the workpiece; (e) separating the template from the workpiece; (f) severing the connected puzzle piece from the workpiece; and (g) repeating steps (a) to (f) using the same template but workpieces that comprise different graphic arts objects, with each repetition of step (d) involving a different selected puzzle piece pattern, whereby a plurality of different puzzle pieces are formed. These puzzle pieces are combined to form a collage puzzle.

Photographs and other graphic materials custom cut into interlocking

A spinal disk implant comprises a solid body having four faces arranged to define a right-rectangular solid body and two faces that define the ends of the solid body. The faces that define the right-rectangular body include two opposed side faces and two opposed transverse faces. A kit that may be used by a surgeon includes an implant and an implant delivery tool dimensioned to releasably hold the implant. The delivery tool preferably has an implant holder with a pair of flexible opposed arms extending from a base, separated so that the implant can fit between the arms. Optionally, the implant holder may have a breakable release band extending around the implant to hold it in place until a weak link in the release band is intentionally broken during implantation.

Growing community of inventors

Hanover, MA, United States of America

Richard L Lariviere, Jr