US2660787A - Seam ripping device - Google Patents

Description

1366- 1, 1953 A. J. PARKER ETAL SEAM RIPPING DEVICE Filed April 19, 1951 uw szvroim ALLEN JJPARKER Y LEO M. MURRAY,

flaw. $4,

' 'ITTORNEY,

Patented Dec. 1, 1953 OFFICE SEAM RIPPING DEVICE Allen J. Parker and Leo M. Murray, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Application April 19, 1951, Serial No. 221,888

1 Claim.

This invention relates to scam ripping devices and has particular reference to a device which will quickly and accurately sever the seam threads of textile materials progressively without danger of cutting or injuring the fabric of the seam.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple seam ripping tool equipped with thread cutting blades and leading feeler fingers that ride over the threads and accurately guide the cutting blades in a manner to separate the fabric so that the cutter blades will engage only the threads of the seam.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel seam ripping tool having a starter blade for opening a part of the seam to enable the insertion of the ripper, after which the ripper can be quickly and easily shifted throughout the length of the seam.

sides in a seam ripping device which will be self cleaning and will avoid the accumulation of thread particles therein which might tend to interfere with the cutting action of the blades. j

Other novel features of construction and operation will be readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been shown the preferred embodiments of the device and wherein like characters of reference are,

employed to denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a seam ripping tool constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged edge view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional View at right angle to Figure 3, taken on line 5-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, ,v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ripper, illustrating the manner of engaging the seam,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the ripper,

Figure 8 is an edge view of the structure of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a side view of a further modified form of the ripper.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the numeral 5 designates a handle portion, formed of plastic or other serviceable and ornamental material- The Another important object of the invention re 20 handle 5 is apertured axially at its lower end for the seating reception of a stud 6, formed preferably as an integral part of a, ripper head, designated as a whole by the numeral 1. The head i may be cast or formed of sheet metal, bent upon itself to form slightly spaced apart side walls 8, having a connecting rear wall 9. The forward or leading edge of the ripper is notched in preferably V-shape, for exposing the cutting edges of a pair of overlapping rotary cutter blades H), positioned between the side Walls 8 and suitably maintained in their overlapping cutting relation, by washers H, the blades being freely rotatable on shafts l2, having a fixed bearing in the side walls 8. The forward or leading edge of the ripper is maintained in position against inward shifting movement of the side walls a, by bending the edges l3 inwardly to contacting relation. The lower end of the head is preferably formed open, as shown in Figure 3, whereby there will beno accumulation of dirt between the side walls. Housed within the head i and supported between the side walls 5 against displacement, is a preferably spring wire feeler device, having a U-shaped body portion Hi, the rear portion of which is securely clamped between the walls 8 by pressing the side walls 8 inwardly to form ribs 15. The upper portion l6 passes through a suitable opening in the leading edge of the head and its free end is curved downwardly at H and then upwardly at 8, with its terminal end anchored in an opening of the leading edge, forming a rounded feeler finger, the lower extremity of which is substantially on the center cutting line of the cutter blades Hi. The lower portion of the wire is bent outwardly at i9 and projects through and beyond the leading edge of the head, where it is bent upwardly and curved upon itself, forming a cooperating feeler finger 20 for flexible engagement normally with the finger H. The finger 23 is free to flex downwardly for riding contact over the threads of the seam as the device is shifted forwardly in the line of thearrow, shown in Figure 6. Means are employed to make an initial cut through the threads of the seam as a starter opening, comprising a triangular sharpened blade 2|, preferably formed integral with the head and projecting outwardly of the rear wall 9.

In the use of this form of the invention, the operator having selected the particular article having the seam to be ripped, carefully employs the blade 2! to sever several of the threads of the seam, or sufficient number to permit the insertion of the ripper head through the opening.

This initial cutting having been accomplished, the head 1 is inserted through the opening and the feeler fingers engaged with the threads of the seam. The operator then draws the device forward, causing the feeler fingers to successively ride over the threads, feeling its way along and accurately guiding the device so that there will be no tendency forv a twisting, or. lateral motion. As the threads pass from between the. fingers, they are engaged by the cutter blades, which quickly and cleanly cut the threads, leaving no ragged ends likely to gather around the head". The rotary blades tend to be self cleaning and avoid the accumulation of dirt. The gripping. of the threads successively will always accurately guide the cutters, since the fingers only engage the space between the threads. they ride'ovei hence the cutter has no tendency to cut. to the side. The finger I! remains fixed, while the finger 20 flexes downwardly to ride over the threads.

The seam ripper illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 and designated as a whole by the numeral 22, embodies a handle 23, supporting a ripper head 24. The head 24 is formed preferably of spring steel and has a handle attaching stud and a tapered feeler 25. Fixed rearwardly of the feeler 25, is a cutter bracket 26, rotatably housing cutter wheels or blades 27'. The leading edge of the bracket is diagonally notched to expose the cutting edges of the blades. While the bracket has been shown as being integral with the head 2d, it will be apparent that the device could be fabricated and soldered together. The head 24 is formed of preferably circular shape with the free end 28 being formed flexible and rounded to providea flexible and shiftable feeler finger 2-9 that has normal contact with the rounded edge of the finger 25. on the center line of the cutter blades. The finger 29 is capable of moving toward and from. the finger 25 for riding contact over the cross threads of the seam. The initial seam cutter is in the form, of" a, sharpened blade 30, rearwardly' extendingfrom the head and fixed with respect thereto.

The use of this form of the invention is similar to that described with respect to that shown in Figures 1 to 6, in that the seam having been initially cut, the head 24 is inserted through the opening and pulled forwardly, with the fingers 25 and 29 riding over the cross threads and snapping into the space between the threads, which action insures that the cutter blades 21 will be directed in an accurate line toward the threads with no tendency toward side shifting movement.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 9, is identical in action to that of the first and second forms and consists preferably of a one piece wire head portion ofcircular form having contacting feeler fingers 3! and; 32. The finger 3! is extended for fixed engagement with. a suitable handle 33. I'nwardly of the finger- 3|, a fixed cutting knife 34 is soldered or otherwise attached to the head and ispositioned in parallel alignment with the fingers and in an identical path of travel. The finger 3-2 is flexible toward and from the finger 31 as the fingers engage the threads of the seam. The knife is preferably curved to impart a better cutting action on the threads. A knife 35, fixed to the rear of the head, serves as the seam starter for opening the seam.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very simple and highly efficient ripper has been provided for quickly and easily opening the seams of garments or the like in a manner calculated to insure against damage to the fabric. The feeler fingers guide the device along the seam by alternately riding over the cross threads and then snapping into the space between the threads, thus accurately holding the cutter blades in the direct line of threads at all times during, the travel of the device along the seam. After openinggthe. seam with either of the blades 2!, 30 or 35, the devices are inserted through the opening and the feeler fingers engaged with the first threads, after which the device can be drawn quickly and easily for the full length of the seam without the necessity of the operator using care to prevent; twisting of the cutter and damage to the fabric. The several cutter blades are self cleaning'and will avoid accumulation of lint or particles of threads that might interfere with the proper cutting action. The devices are simple, cheap to manufacture and result in a very considerable saving of: time in opening seams.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement of parts, but that changes in the shape, size, arrangement of parts and materials employed, may be resorted to as readily fall within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A seam ripping tool embodying a head porttion formed with fiat parallel and spaced apart walls connected at one edge, the forward edge formed open and notched intermediate its length, a pair of bevelled rotary cutter wheels supported in the head in overlapping relation with their joint cutting edges exposed through the notch, a guide device for overriding engagement with the cross threads of'the seam, consisting of a U- shaped flexible spring wire anchored between the walls of'the head, with one leg of'the wire extending throughthe open edge of the head and bent to form a rounded guide finger with its terminal end anchoredlinth'e head, the opposite leg of the wire extended. through. the open edge of the head. and bent, to form a rounded flexible. guide finger that normally flexibly contacts. the first named finger, thefingers-at. their line of contact being in a direct line. of cutting action of the rotary cutters, the cutters and fingers being in the same vertical plane for shifting movement along the seam to be ripped, the fingers adapted to traverse the seam by overriding and underriding simultaneously the threads of the-seam andmaintaining an advanced flexible contact with the threads throughout the ripping of the seam, the fingers guiding the rotary cutter wheels in an accurate path of cutting action to the threads.

ALLEN J... PARKER. LEO M. MURRAY.

References Cited in the file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

255,102 Danheim Mar. 21, 1882 604,675 Fisher May 24, 1898 742,946 Wineman et a1 Nov- 3, 190.3

1,496,228 Jones June 3,1924 1,884,377 Temple Oct. 25, 1932 2,249,093 Stanton July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,529 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1883

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