US2233497A - Envelope opener - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1941. A TEiGEN 2,233,497

ENVELOPE OPENER Filed Aug. 24-, 1939 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE ENVELOPE OPENER Austin F. Teigen, Georgetown, Minn.

Application August 24, 1939, Serial No. 291,745

4 Claims.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet an efiicient and durable hand-operated device for quickly and easily opening envelopes by cutting one edge portion off, simply by engaging the tool with the envelope, holding the latter with the fingers of one hand' andwith the other hand sliding the tool longitudinally of the envelope, while both envelope and tool rest upon a horizontal surface such asadesk top.

With" the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying draw- 5 ing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device in use.

Figure 2 is a perspective View looking against the opposite side of the device from that shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation looking against the side of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 isa longitudinal sectional view as indicated by the lines 4-4 of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views on lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4. I

Figure 7 is a disassembled perspective view.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showa 0 ing a modified and simplified form of construction.

Preferred details have been illustrated and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, minor variations may be made. It is, of course, comprehended that the device may be constructed from any desired material or materials. Moreover, while the article is shown constructed for use with an ordinary razor blade, it will be understood that other specially, formed blades could be used if desired.

An elongated base In is provided to rest slidably upon a desk top or other support, said base having a longitudinal laterally opening channel II to receive one edge portion I2 of an envelope I3, the top wall M of said channel being preferably narrower than the bottom Wall l5. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the top wall I4 is provided at one end with a longitudinal slot It for a purpose to appear, whereas in the modification shown in Fig. 8, such a slot is not necessary.

One vertical blade-clamping plate i1 rises rigidly from the top wall I4, and another vertical blade-clamping plate I 8 is disposed in parallel by a ridge portion I 9 which unitarily connects said plates and forms a convenient handle tion for gripping and operating the tool.

A suitable blade 20 is disposed between the blade-clamping plates I1 and I8, and its cutting edge declines across the channel ll into contact with the lower wall of saidchannel. A pad or the like 2| preferably lies against one side of said blade and against the fixed plate I! to pro vide additional friction for tightly holding the blade in place when said plates I! andlii are drawn together. The thickness of this pad 2| of course regulates the distance which the cut will'be made from the edge of the envelope or the like. Bolts 22 and 22' are shown to draw the walls I! and I8 toward each other. The bolt 1 22 passes through the parts I'i', i8, 20 and-2 being received in one-of the usual openings of the blade 20, but the bolt 22' need not pass through the blade, as will be clear from Fig. 4. Thus, by simply removing the bolt 22, the blade may be easily removed or said blade may be adjusted by simply loosening said bolt. A new blade may be inserted with ease or the old blade simply turned to present a new edge to use. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the sharpened lower edge of the blade 29 extends obliquely across the channel H and through the slot It, but in Fig. 8 in which theblade is at the opposite side of the plate l1, requiring no slot, said blade merely extends obliquely across the channel. In both forms of construction, the longitudinally channeled base l0, the blade-clamping plates I! and I8, and the ridge portion 19 may be considered as being formed from a single piece of sheet metal. However, as above stated, material other than metal may be' used.

In operating the device, it is engaged with the edge portion l2 of an envelope I3 as seen in Fig. 1. Then, while holding the envelope upon a desk top or the like with the fingers of one hand, the device is slid longitudinally uponthesupporting surface, causing the sharpened lower edge of the blade 20 to slit through one or both sides of the envelope, according to the depth to which said blade be adjusted. The device may be quickly, easily and conveniently operated and provides for cleanly cutting the envelope without cutting the contents thereof, due to the fact that the envelope is slit in extremely close proximity PCT- to its edge. If desired, the opening device could of course be held and the envelope or the like slid with respect thereto in performing the opening operation.

I claim:

1. An envelope opener comprising a horizontally elongated base to rest slidably on a supporting surface, said base having a fiat longitudinal relatively wide bottom plate, a flat longitudinal relatively narrow top plate and a longitudinal bight portion integrally joining one of the longitudinal edges of said top plate to one of the longitudinal edges of said bottom plate and spacing said top and bottom plates apart vertically to provide a laterally open channel tore.-

ceive an edge portion of the envelope, the other longitudinal edge of said bottom plate being free; a horizontally elongated fixed vertical blade-. clamping plate integrally joined at its lower edge to the other of said longitudinal edges of said top plate, a second horizontally elongated vertical blade-clamping plate parallel with said fixed vertical plate, a transversely arched ridge extending along the upper edges of the two vertical plates and integrally connecting them, the lower edge of said second vertical plate being free, a blade disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane between said vertical plates and having a sharpened lower edge which declines across the aforesaid channel to said bottom plate, and bolts passing through said vertical plates for drawing said second vertical plate inwardly toward said fixed vertical plate to clamp said blade in place, said blade having an opening through which at leastone of said boltspasses.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; together witha vertical friction pad and spacer clamped between said blade and said fixed vertical plate, the thickness of said friction pad and spacer 40 determining the distance which said sharpened edge of said blade is spaced from the aforesaid bight portion of said base.

3. An envelope opener comprising a horizontally elongated base to rest slidably on a supporting surface, said base having a flat longitudinal relatively wide bottom plate, a flat longitudinal relatively narrow top plate and a loning free; a horizontally elongated fixed vertical blade-clamping plate integrally joined at its lower. edge to the other of said longitudinal edges of said top plate, said top plate being provided at one end with a longitudinal slot at its junc-' turev with said fixed vertical blade-clamping plate, a second horizontally elongated vertical blade-clamping plate parallel with said fixed vertical plate and disposed over said top plate, a transversely arched ridge extending along the upper edges of-the two vertical plates and integrally connecting them, the lower edge of said second vertical plate being free, a blade disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane w between said vertical plates and having a sharpened lower edge which declines through said slot and across said channel to said bottom plate, and. bolts passing through said vertical plates for drawing said second vertical plate inwardly toward said fixed vertical plate to clamp said blade in place, said blade having an opening through which at least one of said bolts passes.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3; together with a vertical friction pad and spacer clamped between said blade and said fixed vertical plate, the thickness of said friction pad and spacer determining the distance which said sharpened edge of said blade is spaced from the aforesaid 4o bight portion of said base. 1

, AUSTIN F. TEIGEN.

Images