US3383768A - Letter opener - Google Patents

Description

May 21, 1968 G. v. HAMILTON 3,383,768

LETTER OPENER Filed July 11, 1966 United States Patent O 3,383,768 LETTER OPENER Glen V. Hamilton, 1930 E. 47th St., Anderson, Ind. 46013 Filed .luly 11, 1966, Ser. No. 564,120 3 Claims. (Cl. 30-287) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope opener having an elongated body with a V-shaped channel therein, a T-sllaped cutter member mounted within the channel, and grooves in the outer sidewalls of the body to provide gripping means.

At present, most envelopes are opened by the Wellknown knife-type letter opener. While effective, the knifetype letter opener, with its point and sharp edges is potentially dangerous, particularly around children. It is also easily misplaced and difficult to detect under papers and the like because of its thin construction. Thus, envelopes are often opened by hand with resulting paper-cuts, tearing `of the envelope so that important return addresses and the like may be disgured and other well-known disadvantages.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved device for opening envelopes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for opening envelopes which is simple, ef cient and safe.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for opening envelopes which has a molded body portion, thereby producing an extremely economical device.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings:

PIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the improved letter opener;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the letter opener;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter blade assembly;

FIG. 3a is a bottom view of the cutter blade assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a section view taken through lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a body portion having a groove running along the entire length of one surface thereof. A cutter or knife portion extends a slight distance inwardly of the groove and has a Stem which is xedly sealed in the body portion of the letter opener. In order to open an envelope, the upper end of the envelope is disposed within the groove and the opener moved so that the cutter blade engages the fold of the envelope and slits it open. The opener can thus be moved from left to right or right to left against the entire upper portion of the envelope.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same, It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Patented May 2l, 1968 ICC Referring more particularly to the drawings, the envelope opener shown generally at l0 includes a body portion 11 having side walls 12 which are adapted to be received in a hand, end walls 13 and top and bottom walls 14 and 15, respectively. The bottom wall 15 has a substantially V-shaped channel 16 therein for receiving an envelope 22 to be opened. A cutting means shown generally at 18 is ixedly sealed in the body portion 11 and extends downwardly therefrom into the channel 16. Grooves 17 in the outer side walls of the body portion 11 provide a gripping means.

The cutting means includes a stem portion 18a which is Xedly sealed in the body portion 11 at a point midway between the end Walls 13. The stem 18a terminates in a knife portion 19 having outwardly and downwardly inclined surfaces so that the cutting means 18 resembles an inverted T-shaped member with the inner surfaces of the top cross bar downwardly inclined. Portion 19 extends into the channel 16 and carries a first cutter blade 20 afixed to one of the inclined surfaces and adjacent one of the side walls and a second -cutter blade 21 aixed to the other inclined surface and adjacent a second side wall. Ends 24 and 25 of portion 19 are pointed and edge 26 is flattened and tapered at ends 24 and 25 as shown in FIG. 3a.

When an envelope 22 is positioned within the channel 16, the center of the envelope fold line is aligned with either point 24 or point 2S of cutting means 1S. The center width of edge 26 spreads the envelope as the letter opener is moved across the top of the envelope. This spreading action helps to keep the knife point centered in the fold.

The V-shaped channel aligns the envelope 22 with the knife portion 19 of cutting means and holds the envelope against the cutting means so that the point 24 or 25 can enter the envelope. The channel also holds the envelope straight while it is being cut. The channel widens at 30 about the cutting means 18 to provide sufficient clearance of the then cut adjacent edges of the envelope and to prevent clogging of bits of paper around the cutting means.

The envelope may be opened by bringing either an end portion of the envelope in contact with one of the cutter blades, or by bringing an intermediate portion of the top surface of the envelope in contact with one of the cutter blades. For instance, if the ends of the envelope are crimped or mashed down, the letter can be opened in the middle.

The body portion 11 may either be molded about the cutting means 18 or two identical opposing plastic parts may be molded and then fitted together by tting means or glue, and the cutter blade glued or friction tted or otherwise secured therein.

The cutter blade can have one cutting edge or it may have two cutting edges located at opposite ends so that the envelope may be inserted in either end of the channel 16. It can be seen that the cutter surfaces are recessed so that it is impossible for anyone to cut themselves on this device. This is particularly important when a letter opener is to be used around children or may be left in places which are easily accessible to children.

The thickness of the letter opener is such that should the letter opener be buried under papers, as often happens on a desk, the user may readily nd it through the stack of papers. It can also be seen that by employing plastic or similar materials an eiective and yet inexpensive and safe letter opener has been provided by the present invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modications that corne within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

I claim:

1. An envelope opener comprising an elongated body portion having side walls adapted to be received in a hand, end walls and top and bottom walls, said bottom wall having a substantially U-shaped channel therein running the length of said body portion, cutting means mounted in said body portion, said cutting means having a stern fixedly sealed in said body portion and extending downwardly into said channel where said stem terminates in a knife portion, said knife portion having a lower edge substantially parallel to said channel and a rst cutting edge inclined outwardly and downwardly from said stern to said lower edge, said rst cutting edge and said lower edge meeting to form a rst pointed end.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said knife portion has a second cutting edge inclined outwardly and downwardly from said stem to said lower edge, said second cutting edge being substantially oppositely directed from said rst cutting edge, said second cutting edge and said lower edge meeting to form a second pointed end at the opposite end of said lower edge from said rst pointed end.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said channel widens and deepens about said cutting means to provide clearance for the cut adjacent edges of an envelope and to prevent clogging of bits of paper around the cutting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,128 3/1875 La Blanc et al. 2,610,399 9/1952 Adams et al. 30-294 X FOREIGN PATENTS 225,802 7/ 1943 Switzerland. 151,209 4/ 1953 Australia.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner.

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