US2814111A

US2814111A - Instrument for cutting open letter envelopes

Info

Publication number: US2814111A
Application number: US521059A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marion S Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-07-11
Filing date: 1955-07-11
Publication date: 1957-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1957 M. s. JONES INSTRUMENT FOR CUTTING OPEN LETTER ENVELOPES Filed July 11, 1955 Fig.2.

Marion ,51 James INVENTO'R BY WM ATTORNEY l nited States Patent INSTRUMENT FOR CUTTING OPEN LETTER ENVELOPES Marion S. Jones, Baltimore, Md.

Application July 11, 1955, Serial No. 521,059

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-294) This invention relates to paper cutting devices, and more particularly to an instrument for cutting open letter envelopes. One of the objects of the invention is the provision of means for severing the fiap of an envelope from the body of the envelope, from end to end thereof.

Another object is the provision of meats for guiding the envelope during the passage of the knife through the flap.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing choking or fouling of the cutter during the cutting operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the cutting blade in order to shift the angle of the cutter blade with respect to the paper to be cut.

It is also an object of the adjusting means whereby movement of the blade will present a new cutting edge of the knife in position for cutting the flap.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that minor changes may be made in the structure within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device, with an envelope in cutting position thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the device, the cutting plane being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away, taken substantially through the longitudinal center of the device.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the device.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of cutter.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the numeral designates a handle or holder for a cut ting blade 11, one edge of the handle being provided with a channel or groove 12 extending throughout the length of the handle 10.

The blade 11 is relatively thin and seated against lateral movement in a slot 13 formed in the transverse center of the groove 12.

As shown at 14, the handle is beveled at each side from the center to form clearance for a purpose to pres- 2,814,111 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 hoe ently appear. The blade is pivotally mounted at 15 in the handle and has an arcuate surface 16 so disposed with respect to the pivot of the blade as to provide a crank for changing the angular position of the blade with respect to the groove 12, adjustment of the blade being made by means of a set screw 17 which is threaded in a bore 18 in the handle. The inner end of the screw rests against the surface 16 of the blade so that manipulation of the screw will move the blade about its pivotal point to change the angle of the blade with respect to the plane of the surface of the paper to be cut. This adjustment of the blade enables the operator of the device to adjust the blade for cutting paper of different textures and thickness. It will also be observed that any change in the angular disposition of the blade results in presenting a new cutting surface on the cutting edge of the blade, to the paper.

It will further be observed that the apex 18 of the beveled surfaces 14, is lower than the bottom of the groove 12, thus providing clearance between the envelope and the apex 18 at the cutting surface of the blade for any fragments of paper from the cut envelope to accumulate and prevent the blade operating to cut the envelope.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a cutter in which adjustment of the blade has been dispensed with and the blade 19 is shown as being secured permanently to the handle by means of pins 20. Other elements of the device are identical with the structure hereinbefore described, and are therefore indicated by like numerals having a sufiix added.

In use, with the edge of the envelope in the groove 12, the point of the knife is placed under the flap at one corner of the envelope and with the knife in this position, the device is drawn along the edge of the envelope, thus quickly and effectively cutting the flap to open the envelope.

Having thus described the invention:

What is claimed is:

A letter opener comprising an elongated body having a central groove formed in one longitudinal edge thereof providing a guideway, the side walls of said groove having arcuate cut-out portions spaced a substantial distance from the ends of said groove and intersecting said groove, the base of the outer marginal portions of said arcuate cut-out portions lying a substantial distance below the base of said groove providing a clearance for the reception of a corner of an envelope to be opened the base of said cut-out portions being beveled in opposite directions from the base of said central groove to the bases of said outer marginal portions of said arcuate cut-out portions, and a blade secured within said groove having its cutting edge disposed at an acute angle with respect to the base of said groove, said blade projecting out of said groove over said cut-out portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,218 Geiger Aug. 8, 1882 844,770 Bauer Feb. 19, 1907 2,282,062 Jewett May 5, 1942 2,442,694 Keiser June 1, 1948