AU706889B2

AU706889B2 - Whip cutting tool

Info

Publication number: AU706889B2
Application number: AU10133/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dene Williams
Original assignee: WILLIAMS MAUREEN
Current assignee: Williams Maureen
Priority date: 1996-02-05
Filing date: 1997-01-14
Publication date: 1999-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-14
Also published as: AU1013397A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a whip cutting tool for manual use.

BACKGROUND

ART

Whips are made from animal hides cut into a number of strands and subsequently plaited and hitched. The number of strands can vary from four to as many as 32, more commonly 8 or 12, and the shape of the finished whip requires that they should be cut into tapered shapes, sometimes increasing their width by 50-100% in 30-40 cm, or decreasing similarly over a distance of up to 5 metres. Maximum widths of 13 mm and minimums of 2 10 mm are common.

Traditionally whips were cut out with an extremely sharp knife using a thumbnail as a guide, a skill acquired over an apprenticeship period.

Notched pieces of wood and plastic are commonly used by skilled semiprofessionals.

15 Other stranding tools have been available for perhaps 100 years, consisting of a blade-holding screw and washer, a moveable guide for width, and a top guide forming a slot to control the strand vertically. The depth of this slot being fixed, finer leathers would buckle and be cut wider than required, and heavier leathers would not pass through. A strand would be cut for a length of 30-60 cm, withdrawn, another strand carefully threaded into the cutter between the blade and width guide, cut for 30 or 60 cm, and so on, until all the strands were cut, when the guide would be changed for another sequence of cutting.

With a distance of say 4 metres to be cut and 12 to 16 strands, this was time consuming, potentially inaccurate. To cut a decreasing taper was well-nigh impossible, and because the blade is of necessity, ultra sharp the risk of cutting a strand while re-threading it into the cutter, virtually ruining the whip, was high.

Added to the difficulties in using currently available tools is the high cost of the material used in whip making, so while there have been very many persons capable of plaiting a stock whip, the task of cutting out the strands proved a major stumbling block to most of them. This has had the effect off stifling the continuance of the whip making art, and those already proficient could not pass on their skills to students who found it impossible to prepare their own work.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention, although this need not be the broadest nor indeed the only aspect there is provided a whip strand cutting tool comprising:a blade assembly and an opposed guide assembly, the guide 10 assembly being movable relative to the blade assembly over a support shaft extending between the blade assembly and the guide assembly, the guide assembly being fixable on the guide assembly in any selected position; ooo* o *a top guide adapted to extend over the support shaft between the guide assembly and the blade assembly, the top guide being spaced from .15 the support shaft and being pivotally movable between an open position, in which material can be located on the tool, and a closed, cutting position; .the guide assembly, blade assembly, support shaft and top guide together defining a slit in which the material can be held in a cutting operation.

Preferably, the top guide is resiliently biased into the closed position preventing undue or excessive movement of material through the slit. In one embodiment of the present invention, the top guide is biased into position using a coiled spring.

By allowing a movable top guide the operator is more easily able to remove the tool from the hide without the necessity for threading the strand through the tool. More importantly, by biasing the top guide into position the top guide allows the tool to be self adjusting to different thicknesses of leather.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the blade assembly is located with the handle of the tool and the top guide member positioned so as to be operable by the thumb of the operator.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is also provided a whip cutting tool including a guide assembly, the guide assembly including a guide member movable over a shaft, the guide member being resiliently biased into position by a tensioned member on one side of the guide and by a stop member on an opposing side. The moveable guide assembly therefore allows the maximum cutting width to be set, and, by being resiliently biased into position allows an operator to have control over the width of the cut strand and to vary the width within certain limits.

To be able to cut accurate machine-guided tapers of any length and considerable variation in width, is in itself an important feature. The stopscrew adds to the usefulness of this function.

In a preferred embodiment the tool of the present invention incorporates a handle to which the working parts are added. The logic in designing this way was that in any close and accurate work, the operator's hands should be as 15 close as possible to the work being carried out.

The angle between the handle and the cutting and guiding assemblies is as close as possible of the way a professional whip cutter would present a knife to the leather being cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with S" reference to the following illustrations in which: FIG 1 illustrates in perspective view a whip cutting tool in accordance with one aspect of the present invention shown in use; and FIG 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate the whip cutting tool of FIG 1 in sectional view with the top guide assembly in two alternative positions and varying modes of operation of the guide assembly.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Shown in the drawings is a whip cutting tool 10 comprising:a blade assembly 12 and an opposed guide assembly 14, the guide assembly 14 being movable over a support shaft 16 relative to the blade assembly 12 and being fixable in any selected position; a top guide 18 adapted to extend over the support shaft 16 between the guide assembly 14 and the blade assembly 12 and in parallel relation to the support shaft 16, the guide assembly 14, support shaft 16, blade assembly 12 and top guide 18 defining a slit 20 in which a strand is held during a cutting operation; wherein the top guide 18 is pivotally attached to the tool 10 in a position remote from the blade assembly 12 and is movable between open and closed positions in which material to be cut can be removed from and placed into the slit The blade assembly 12 includes a blade 22 secured to an elongate handle .24 by means of a washer and fastening screw arrangement 26. The blade 15 22 is located adjacent an upper end of the handle 24. The handle 24 is of ~sufficient length to be gripped comfortably in the palm of a user.

~The materials commonly used in whip making vary in thickness from 0.5 to 3 mm. The kangaroo leather for which this tool is principally designed (although a fine calf leather could be used) is invariably split or shaved in 20 the tannery to a maximum of 1.5 mm, although preferably 1- 1.2 as a maximum. The tool 10 is designed so the distance between the support shaft 16 and the top guide 18 will be 1.5 mm or slightly under when they are in a parallel position.

Stockwhips can be made from a suitably selected tanned and split cow or calf hide, when the thickness will vary between two and maybe 3.5 mm. A tool of similar design to the present tool may be made to accommodate the extra thickness of leather. In such a tool it will be necessary to make all components more robustly, and the blade would probably be of the order of a Stanley knife.

The minimum cutting width would only need to be 4 to 5 mm because these hides do not lend themselves to the manufacture of fine strand whips. Thus, whilst 4, 6 and 8 plait cowhide whips are made they never include any more strands, and they are invariably a thicker whip than a kangaroo whip.

r II

I

The whip cutter in its present form is a fine instrument, but can be designed for lighter or heavier applications. It is not desirable to make it too universal, because it would be too heavy and bulky for the main purpose for which it has been designed. A tack hammer is not designed to drive railway spikes, nor a sledge hammer to drive cabinet makers brads.

Attached to an upper edge of the handle 24 towards the front thereof is a sideways extending plate 28 which has a further rearwardly extending support 30 projecting therefrom. The support 30 as can generally be seen in FIG 1 is arranged so as to be parallel to but spaced from handle 24. The support 30 functions as a carrier for the support shaft 16 and top guide 18.

.Thus the support shaft 16 extends across the tool 10 between the handle 24 and carrier support oooo• *°°Located directly above the support shaft 16 is the top guide 18, which is connected to the carrier support 30 through a pivot pin 32 the pivot pin 32, which is connected to upstanding lug on the carrier support 30 can be ~clearly seen in figure 2. The top guide 18 is generally diamond shaped in outline and can be pivoted about the pin 30. One outward side of the top guide 18 shown as 18a extends beyond the carrier plate 30 and is positioned so as to allow the thumb of an operator to rotate the member 18 20 about the pin 32 by application of downward pressure on this limb. As shown in FIG'S 2a, 2b and 2c, a biasing spring 34 extends between the carrier support 30 and an inner limb of the top guide 18 the inner limb being designated 18b. The biasing spring 34 acts to retain the top guide 18 in a resting position shown in FIG'S 2b and 2c, until pressure is applied to the outer limb of the top guide 18. With the top guide 18 in the rest position, the inner limb 18b of the top guide extends directly above the support shaft 16 and rests just in front of the leading edge of the blade 22.

The top guide 18 is shown in an open position in FIG 2a and in a closed position in FIG'S 2b and 2c. The guide assembly 14 comprises an apertured guide member 36, adjustment screw 38 and stopper 40. The guide member 36 is arranged so as the support shaft 16 passes through the aperture in the guide member 36, the guide member 36 being moveable over the support shaft 16. The upper edge of the guide member 36 has a slot 42 therein, in which the top guide 18 is received in the rest position.

The guide member 36 incorporates several valuable features. Its design allows accurate cutting of a small radius. It is notched so that when the top guide 18 moves upward to allow heavier leather to pass through, it still controls the width accurately. The support shaft 16 passing through the guide holds it sufficiently rigid for accurate control while width adjustments are made during cutting.

The adjustment screw 38 has a hollow bore through which extends a connection pin 44. The connection pin 44 is securely anchored at one end, to a lower portion of the guide member 36. The bore in the adjustment screw 38 is configured so as to have a narrower inner portion and a wider outer portion connected by a shoulder element. Located in the wider outer portion is a helical spring 46 which passes over the connecting pin 42. In turn, an outer sleeve 48 sits in the bore and bears against the spring 46.

The pin terminates in an end cap 50. By bringing pressure to bear on the end cap 50 and compressing the spring 46, it is possible to move the guide member 36 over the support shaft 16. Further, the adjustment screw 38 is threadedly engaged in the carrier support 30. The guide assembly is completed by the stopper 40 which is threadably engaged in the handle 24 such that the stopper 40 is opposed to the lower end of the guide element 36 20 and serves to limit the travel of the guide element toward the handle 24.

The secondary adjustment, achieved by pressing the end of the spring loaded sleeve 48, allows the guide member 16 to move during the cutting operations to achieve accurate short or long tapered sections. The provision of the stopper 40 makes it possible to set maximum and minimum width parameters. When it is desired to gradually increase the width of a strand, the stopper 40 can be set to the old maximum width, the guide member 16 set to the new maximum by means of the adjustment screw 38. The top guide 18 is raised to allow the blade 22 to be introduced into work, the width guide 16 brought in by thumb pressure to bear against the strand at the old maximum width, and during cutting, allowed to come out to the new maximum.

When cutting a decreasing taper, this process is reversed. The "travel" possible has been designed to accommodate the most common variations in width required in whip cutting.

The head of the main width adjusting screw 38 has been fitted with a notched wheel of sufficient diameter allowing it to be turned with one thumb, adding to the speed of operation. A smaller wheel would be difficult to turn, a heavily knurled wheel of the same diameter equally so, and the normal size hexagon head of a bolt, impossible to turn in this manner. The necessary size of this wheel has largely determined the shape of 18a top guide.

This is also the reason for the position of the notched wheel, it has been offset from vertical to allow 18a more clearance of movement. The close tolerance is most apparent at wide width guide settings.

10 The shape of the width guide 16 which has been milled out to allow it to "overhang" the handle 24, enabling strands of less than 3 mm width to be cut, which is the thickness of the metal comprising handle 24. The width *guide 16 has been cut out to allow blade retaining screw 26 to protrude, and an addition to its width to allow limiting screw 40 to make contact with it. This S" 15 addition necessitated the spacer plate 28 to be bevelled at its upper edge to allow the guide to move freely.

Using the guide assembly it is possible to set maximum and minimum cutting widths for the tool, and also to vary within the set maximum and minimum widths the width of any portion of a strand during a cutting operation. As can be seen clearly in fig's 2b and 2c the slit 20 is defined by the support shaft 16, guide element 36, top guide 18 and blade 22. By adjustment of the adjustment screw 38 in the carrier support 30, the position S" of the guide, and therefore the outer edge of any strand to be cut can be set.

The inner edge of any strand to be cut is determined by the blade. During the cutting operation it is possible, by bringing pressure to get on the cap and therefore on the spring 46 it is possible to have the guide member 36 move towards the blade 22, therefore narrowing the width of a cut strand during the cutting operation, the action of compressing spring 46 is shown in FIG 2b. The limit of inward travel of the guide element can be controlled by setting the stopper 40 into an appropriate position as shown in figure 2b.

If it is necessary or desirable to remove a partially cut strand from the tool or to insert into the tool 10 a partially cut strand the top guide 18 can be operated to open the slit 20 as shown in FIG 2a and the material inserted or removed as necessary.

I

The handle 24 design is also unique in this tool being offset in relation to the guides and blade so that a natural holding position presents the cutter to the work at the optimum angle, thereby substantially reducing operator fatigue.

Because it is also part of the blade holding assembly, the operators hand is as close as possible to the work for maximum control. The length and shape also allow rigid control while manipulating the various guides during and between cuts.

The cutter is designed to accept an inexpensive and readily available scalpel blade, or a home-made blade, or a pointed craft blade.

10 When a sharp pointed blade is fitted, it is simple to raise the top guide and move the spring loaded width guide to a narrow setting simultaneously. The blade is presented to the hide to be cut and when the top guide is released the blade pierces the leather. By gently releasing the width guide spring o 0while cutting, a group of tapered strands attached to a solid base can be cut, 15 particularly useful in cutting out whip handle covers.

oo Previously impractical, whip making can be taught in craft classes using this tool and savings in time and, more importantly, expensive material will be effected by amateurs and semi-professionals alike.

This invention therefore, by its several innovations makes it possible for a novice to cut out a whip, and, after a short period of experience, achieve professional speed and accuracy.

During the operation of the tool 10, therefore the operator firstly sets the cutting width by manipulation of the adjustment screw 36. The top guide 18 is raised to allow the hide to be placed in the tool and the blade 22 is positioned. During the cutting of a strand, the operator can narrow the width if necessary by compressing spring 46. Similarly, to finish cutting or remove the tool from the strand, the top guide 18 is raised and the strand removed.

Therefore, the tool 10 of the present invention may be relatively easily, and accurately, operated by even those of lesser skill and experience to produce strands of the desired width and length.

Modifications and variations of the present invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention. The examples given are for purposes of illustration only and not to be taken as limiting the invention in any way.

0 *o*o* *oo THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A whip strand cutting tool comprising:a blade assembly and an opposed guide assembly, the guide assembly being movable relative to the blade assembly over a support shaft extending between the blade assembly and the guide assembly, the guide assembly being fixable on the guide assembly in any selected position; a top guide adapted to extend over the support shaft between the guide assembly and the blade assembly, the top guide being spaced from the .°support shaft and being pivotally movable between an open position, in which material can be located on the tool, and a closed, cutting position; the guide assembly, blade assembly, support shaft and top guide together defining a slit in which the material can be held in a cutting operation.

2. A whip cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein the top guide is resiliently biased into the closed position preventing undue or excessive movement of material through the slit.

•°leO= A whip cutting tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the top guide is biased into position using a coiled spring.

4. A whip cutting tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein S° the blade assembly is located with a handle of the tool and the top guide member positioned so as to be operable by the thumb of the operator.

A whip cutting tool according to any of the preceding claims, including a guide assembly being resiliently biased into position by a tensioned member on one side of the guide and by a stop member on an opposing side, whereby the guide assembly allows a maximum cutting width to be set, and, by being resiliently biased into position allows an operator to have control over a width of a cut strand and to vary the width within pre-determined limits.

6. A whip cutting tool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the blade assembly includes a blade secured to an elongate handle by means of a washer and fastening screw arrangement, the blade being

Claims

7. A whip cutting tool according to claim 6, further including a rearwardly extending support projecting therefrom, the support being arranged so as to be parallel to but spaced from handle and functioning as a carrier for the support shaft and top guide, so that the support shaft is able to extend between the handle and carrier support.
8. A whip cutting tool according claim 7, in which the top guide is located directly above the support shaft, and is connected to the carrier support 10 through a pivot pin connected to an upstanding lug on the carrier support, the top guide being pivotally movable about the pivot pin.
9. A whip cutting tool according claim 8, in which the top guide is generally diamond shaped in outline, one outward limb of the top guide shown extending beyond the carrier plate and being positioned so as to allow the thumb of an operator to rotate the top guide about the pivot pin by application of downward pressure on the outward limb.. A whip cutting tool according claim 9, further including a biasing o *spring extending between the carrier support and an inner limb of the top guide, the biasing spring acting to retain the top guide in a resting position until pressure is applied to the outer limb of the top guide, and whereby, with the top guide in the rest position, the inner limb of the top guide extends directly above the support shaft and rests just in front of a leading edge of the blade of the blade assembly.
11. A whip cutting tool according any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide assembly comprises an apertured guide member, adjustment screw and stopper.
12. A whip cutting tool according claim 11, the guide member being arranged so as the support shaft passes through the aperture in the guide member, and wherein the guide member is moveable over the support shaft, the guide member has a slot formed in an upper edge thereof, in which the top guide is received in the resting position. 13
13. A whip cutting tool according claim 11, wherein adjustment screw is threadedly engaged in the carrier support and includes a hollow bore through which extends a connection pin, the connection pin being securely anchored at one end, to a lower portion of the guide member the bore in the adjustment screw being configured so as to have a narrower inner portion connected by a shoulder element to a wider outer portion, a helical spring which passes over the connecting pin being located in the outer portion, and an outer sleeve located in the bore bears against the helical spring, such that by bringing pressure to bear on the helical spring, it is possible to move the guide member over the support shaft.
14. A whip cutting tool according claim 11, wherein the stopper which is threadably engaged in the handle such that the stopper is opposed to the lower end of the guide element and serves to limit the travel of the guide .woo.i element toward the handle. Dated this 14th day of January 1997 DENE WILLIAMS and MAUREEN WILLIAMS By their Patent Attorneys, COLLISON gO. :44 0•o0 ABSTRACT A whip strand cutting tool comprising:- a blade assembly and an opposed guide assembly, the guide assembly being movable relative to the blade assembly over a support shaft extending between the blade assembly and the guide assembly, the guide assembly being fixable on the guide assembly in any selected position; a top guide adapted to extend over the support shaft between the guide assembly and the blade assembly, the top guide being spaced from the support shaft and being pivotally movable between an open position, in o 10 which material can be located on the tool, and a closed, cutting position; 0* *°"the guide assembly, blade assembly, support shaft and top guide together defining a slit in which the material can be held in a cutting operation. se o 0900 0 S...o