GB1047974A - Letter opener - Google Patents

Abstract

1,047,974. Cutting appliances. N. LIPTON. April 30, 1964, No. 17902/64. Heading B4B. A letter opener comprises a blade-holder block 1 having a slot 10 between rear and forward plates 7, 4, an oblique blade 21 secured to the forward plate with a cutting point 32 projecting below the bottom wall 25 and a horizontal envelope-supporting base 35 beneath the blade having an upright plate 16 which is slidably retained in the slot in the holder block by a retainer plate 3 with pins 19, 20, snap-fitting in sockets in the rear plate 7. As described, a spring 14 is inserted in the slot prior to assembly to urge the base 35 away from the bottom wall 25. In operation, an envelope 26 is inserted in an access opening 23, and the cutter block manually urged downwards against the base 35. The rear plate 7 is slightly deeper than the forward plate 4, so that when it contacts the base 35 the knife cuts only the upper paper layer of the envelope as it is drawn through the gap 23. The bottom corners of the forward plate and retainer plate may be rounded 34 to remove unevenness in the envelope and prevent tearing. When the device is to be taken apart for blade-changing, a coin may be inserted in recesses 33 at each side of the block to loosen the snap-fitting retainer plate. In a modification the detachable retainer plate 3 forms the forward plate of the block. The supporting base 35 and upright plate and spring may be withdrawn to permit remainder of the device to be used as a letter opener.