Punch with removable blade

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Having described my invention, I claim: 1.
A punch for cutting an elongated slug from a sheet of material, comprising: a body having a first opening, and a second opening connected to the first opening for removal of the slug; the body having a lower seat and an upper seat disposed between said openings, the upper seat being disposed adjacent the first opening; a hollow blade received in the body, the blade having a pair of opposed sides including a first side, and a second side shorter than the first side, the blade being mounted on the lower seat such that the upper seat supports the short side of the blade whereby the blade is disposed to define a generally continuous cutting edge about said first opening for punching a slug in the sheet material, and the upper seat engages the slug as it passes through the blade toward the second opening; and means in the body for locking the blade in a cutting position.
2.
A punch as defined in claim 1, in which the locking means includes an elongated fastening member disposed in the body between opposite sides of the blade, and a threaded fastener threadably connected to the body and engaged with the fastening member such that opposite ends thereof engage opposite sides of the blade to wedge same in the body opening.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is related to punches for cutting an opening in cardboard material, and more specifically toward a punch having a removable blade for cutting an elongated slot in cardboard or plastic material.
Display packaging of the type hung on an elongated wire support is punched with a slot for receiving the support to mount the packaging in an upright position.
The slot is normally punched with a unitary punch comprising a body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening disposed at right angles to the inlet opening.
A raised cutting edge around the inlet opening provides means for cutting a slug from a sheet of cardboard to form an opening.
The slug passes through the body of the punch to the outlet opening