A cutting device is operable with one hand for cutting a circle or an elliptical shape in a sheet of material. In a first embodiment for cutting elliptical shapes, the cutting device includes a first member for placement on the sheet material and a second member for simultaneous pivotal and translatable movement with respect to the base plate. The first member has a first pivot point that is movable along a first axis, while the second member has a second pivot point that is movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second members are operably connected to each other at the first and second pivot points. A knob is connected to one of the pivot points and is sized to be grasped by one hand and rotated. Rotation of the knob about the one pivot point causes the second member to rotate and slide in an elliptical pattern with respect to the base plate. The second member may include or may be coupled to a forming member to thereby form an elliptical shape in the sheet of material. In a second embodiment the cutting device has a first member for placement on the sheet of material and a second member for pivotal movement with respect to the first member. The first member includes a single pivot point. A knob is placed substantially over the single pivot point, and rotation of the knob causes the second member to pivot about the single pivot point, thereby forming a circle in the sheet of material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/262,155, filed Oct. 1, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,461, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,920, filed Mar. 28, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,406, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/140,264, filed Aug. 26, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,909. The application, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
