WO2002006019A1

WO2002006019A1 - A notch clipper

Info

Publication number: WO2002006019A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2001/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joy Eleanor HÖVENER
Original assignee: Hoevener Joy Eleanor
Priority date: 2000-07-14
Filing date: 2001-07-16
Publication date: 2002-01-24
Also published as: AU2001281414A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a notch clipper and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a dressmarker's notch clipper. The notch clipper consists of two hingedly connected jaws. A first jaw has a V-shaped cutting edge and a second jaw has a cutting edge receiving formation. The jaws are hingable from an open position to a close position for cutting a V-notch in a textile.

Description

A NOTCH CLIPPER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a notch clipper and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a dressmaker's notch clipper.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Garments are made from self-constructed or commercially available garment patterns. A garment pattern consists of various panels that indicate the various textile panels of which a garment is to be constructed. The pattern panels are attached to textile sheets from which a garment is to be made. The textile panels are cut out using the panels of the pattern. Once cut out, the textile panels have to be assembled in a specific and precise manner. To enable the tailor to marry these textile panels, triangles are marked on the pattern panels along their edges. These triangles are cut out using a scissors and are matched with corresponding triangles on other cut out garment panels.

In some cases, marking pens are also used to mark the triangles on garment panels to facilitate matching of garment panels. Where a scissors is used, these triangles may be cut too deep into the material panel. This results in a weakening of a seam of a completed garment. Marking pens are also not effective as markings do not always show up on all fabrics and the markings may only be visible on one side of a cut out panel.

South African patent number 82/3977 in the name of S P M Middleton entitled "Scissors" discloses a pair of scissors which are provided with a raised formation and an indentation respectively. The indentation and the formation are formed on the opposed cutting edges of the blades of the scissors. In use of the scissors the formation and the indentation are utilized to cut a triangular or V- shaped pattern marker in textiles.

The scissors described in South African patent number 82/3977 is not convenient to use as the formation and the indentation are not easily aligned with pre-marked triangles on garment patterns and the cutting edges of the scissor blades may cut into the textile if the blades are not property aligned next to the textile edge.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a notch clipper that, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned difficulties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a notch clipper comprising two hingedly connected jaws, a first jaw having a V-shaped cutting edge and a second jaw having a cutting edge receiving formation; the jaws being hingable from an open position to a closed position for cutting a V-notch with the V- shaped cutting edge in an object.

A further feature of the invention provides for at least one jaw to include an aperture for use in alignment of the cutting edge with a marking on an object to be cut.

The notch clipper includes a V-shaped cutting edge defining an apex line on the cutter head which line extends in a plane defined by the hinged movement of the jaws.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the jaws to have handle extensions to facilitate the movement of the jaws between their open and closed positions.

There is also provided for the cutting receiving head to include a V-notch for receiving the cutting edge therein. There is further provided for the cutter receiving formation or head to be a block having a planar surface on which a cutting edge of the cutter head abuts when the jaws are in their closed position.

A cutting edge of the cutter head is received inside a complementary shaped aperture.

A further feature of the invention provides for the cutting edges to be receivable over a complementary shaped protrusion on the second jaw.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a notch clipper;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the notch clipper of figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a side view of the notch clipper of figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 shows an underside plan view of the notch clipper of figures 1 , 2 and 3;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a notch clipper; and

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a cutter head and a cutter receiving head of the notch clipper of figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, in which like features are indicated by like numerals, a notch clipper is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The notch clipper (1) consists of two hingedly connected jaws (2a and 2b) that are hingable about a hinged connection (7). Each jaw (2a and 2b) has a handle extension (6) that forms handles for the notch clipper (1 ). With reference to figures 1 to 4, the first jaw (2a) terminates in a V-shaped cutter head (3a) having a V-shaped cutting edge (3b) facing the second jaw (2b). The second jaw (2b) terminates a cutting edge receiving formation or head (4).

Jaw (2b) includes an aperture (10) through which the V-shaped cutter head (3a) may be viewed for alignment as is explained further below.

Cutter receiving head (4) on jaw (2b) includes a complementary shaped receiving notch for receiving the V-shaped cutting edge (3b) when cutting a V- notch in a textile (not shown) by hinging the jaws (2a) and (2b) about their hinged connection (7) to their closed position.

A blind aperture (11 ) is located at a front end of the notch clipper (1 ) as is shown in figures 1 to 4, for receiving the edge of a textile therein. The edge of the textile inserts into the blind aperture until it abuts an end surface (12), as is shown in figure 3, of the blind aperture (11).

In this way a textile having a V-shaped marking on its edge can be inserted in the blind aperture (11 ) until its edge abuts against the stop surface (12). The apex of the V-shaped cutter head (3a) on jaw (2a) can be viewed through aperture (10) to align the cutting edges (3b) thereon with the V-shaped marking on the edge of the textile. Alternatively, an aperture in jaw (2b) may be used to view an apex of the receiving notch for alignment thereof with a marking on a textile.

The cutter head (3) on the notch clipper (1 ) of figures 5 and 6 consists of a substantially rectangular base (9) with a V-shaped protrusion extending normally from a major inner surface of the base (9). The V-shaped protrusion terminates in a cutting edge (5).

The cutter receiving head (4) of the notch clipper 1 of figures 5 and 6 is a substantially rectangular plate having one major planar surface (8). The plate is secured to the second jaw such that the planar surface (8) faces the cutter head (3).

In use, an object such as a textile to be cut is positioned between the jaws (2a and 2b) when the jaws (2a and 2b) are spaced apart in their open position. The handles (6) are manually operated to hinge the jaws (2a and 2b) about their hinged connection (7) to their closed position. The cutting edge (5) thus cuts through the object positioned between the jaws when the jaws (2a and 2b) are moved to their closed position in which the cutting edge (5) abuts the planar surface (8) of the cutter receiving head (4). In this way, a V-notch is cut into the textile. It is envisaged that the notch clippers (1) described herein will be convenient to be use by dressmakers and the like when cutting patterns for garments in that V-notches may be cut into different textile panels which make up a garment for the precise matching of these panels. The notch clipper, when aligned perpendicularly with the edge of the material or fabric, will cut a V-notch to the required depth, whereas a scissors may cut too deep. The difficulties associated with a marking pen, in that markings may not be visible from both sides of certain materials and that markings do not always show up on all materials, are eliminated. Also, the cutting heads and cutter receiver heads are visible and are easily aligned with markings on patterns or textiles.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein. For example, the cutter receiving head (4) of the notch clipper of figures 5 and 6 may be complementary shaped to the cutting edge (5) to receive the cutting edge inside a slot or a V-notch in the cutter receiving head or over an outer side of a v-shaped cutter receiving head. Also, the planar surface (8) does not have to be rectangular but may be shaped in plan view to just receive the cutting edge thereon.

Claims

1. A notch clipper comprising two hingedly connected jaws, a first jaw having a V-shaped cutting edge and a second jaw having a cutting edge receiving formation; the jaws being hingable from an open position to a closed position for cutting a V-notch with the V-shaped cutting edge in an object.

2. A notch clipper as claimed in claim 1 in which the first jaw terminates in the V-shaped cutting edge.

3. A notch clipper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the second jaws includes a complementary shaped receiving notch for receiving the V-shaped cutting edge therein.

4. A notch clipper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the cutting edge receiving formation includes a planar surface for receiving the cutting edge thereon.

5. A notch clipper as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which at least one jaw includes an aperture through which at least an apex of the cutting edge or receiving notch can be viewed to align the cutting edge with a marking on an object to be cut.

6. A notch clipper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a symmetry line of the V-shaped cutting edge is parallel or in a plane defined by the hingable movement of the jaws.

7. A notch clipper as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the jaws have handle extensions to facilitate the movement of the jaws between their open and closed positions.

8. A notch clipper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the cutting edge is received over a complementary shaped protrusion on the second jaw when the jaws are in their closed position.