US3476043A - Envelope opening device - Google Patents

Description

. NOV. 4, 1969 H, R, ERDLEY 3,476,043

'ENVELOPE OPENING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1967 INVENTOR.

HAROLD R. ERDLEY United States Patent O 3,476,043 ENV ELOPE OPENING DEVICE Harold R. Erdley, Road 2, Milllinburg, Pa. 17844 Filed June 7, 1967, Ser. No. 644,238 Int. Cl. B26d 5/08 US. Cl. 83-575 v 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope opening apparatus which will cut approximately 1&4 to 1A00 of an inch from the edge of the envelope without cutting the material enclosed within the envelope having a pivotable blade which is electrically operated through the use of push-pull electro-magnets, the magnets effecting a shearing action against a shearing edge with respect to the pivotable blade of the apparatus. This apparatus serves to quickly and efficiently open envelopes.

This invention relates to cutting devices, and more particularly to an electrically operated envelope opener.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide an envelope opening device in which the blade serves as a stop and guide to cut a narrow strip from the edge of an envelope allowing the material to be removed therefrom without damage to the material.

Another object of this invention is to provide an envelope opening device which may be plugged into a Wall receptacle and may be used upon a desk, counter or in any desired area to facilitate the quick opening of envelopes in order that their contents may be read in an eX- pedited manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an envelope opening device which will have a pivotable cutting blade which operates against a shear edge located on the top surface of the device and the depth of cut may be controlled by changing a shim secured to the pivotable cutting blade.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the present invention shown in elevation and partly broken away; and

FIGURE 2 is an end view of FIGURE 1.

According to this invention, an envelope opening device is provided with a rectangular base 11, the bottom surface 12 resting upon any desired surface such as a desk or the like. Device 10 is provided with vertical walls 13 and 13 which supports a top wall 14 upon which the envelope 15 is placed. Top wall 14 is provided with a hard metallic shear edge 16 against which blade 17 will strip the edge of envelope 15 therefrom. Elongated cutting blade 17 is pivoted upon pin 18 which is secured at right angles to Wall 19 of device 10. Wall 19 is also secured to base 11 and provides support means for the pivotable blade 17 and its associated components which hereinafter will be described. A shim 20 may be screwed to blade 17 by means of screws 21 in order to change the thickness of cut from the edge of envelope 15 and the clippings from the envelope 15 fall into the receiving area 22 of device 10. A pair of push-pull electro- magnets 23 and 24 provides actuating means for the cutting blade 17. Electro-magnet 23 is provided with a repel portion 25 and 3,476,043 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 ICC an attraction portion 26 while the electro-magnet 24 is provided with a repel portion 27 and an attraction portion 28, switches 29 and 30* respectively providing the circuit closing and opening means for the operation of cutting blade 17. A cord 31 and its associated male plug 32 when plugged into a receptacle (not shown) provides power electrically for the operation of device 10.

In use, the blade 17 which shears a strip from envelope 15 so that the contents may be removed is controlled by two electro- magnets 23 and 24. When the switch 29 is closed current flows to the attraction portion 26 of electromagnet 23 and to the repel portion 27 of electro-magnet 24 thus causing the pivotable blade 17 to be held in the upward position. When switch 30 is closed a reversal of current is effected through the opposite portions 25 and 28 of magnets 23 and 24 thus suddenly and effectively pivoting blade 17 down to shear a strip or clipping from the envelope 15.

It will =be noted that blade 17 should be as heavy as conveniently possible to impart a greater inertia upon it when it is released for the down stroke to shear a strip from envelope 15.

It shall further be noted that shims 20 may be of various sizes in thickness to allow for the desired cut upon envelope 15.

What I now claim is:

1. An envelope opening device comprising a base, side walls, a top wall, and a rear supporting wall, pivotable blade means carried by said device for shearing a strip from the edge of an envelope, said top wall providing support means for said envelope, said envelope being urged against said pivotable blade member in order for said blade member to pivot downwardly to remove a strip from the edge of said envelope thus exposing the contents of said envelope, a pair of push-pull magnets carried by said device providing lifting means for said blade, switch means carried by said device providing control of said blade, said blade acting in concert with a hardened shear edge secured to said top wall of said device, a pin providing pivot means :for said cutting blade, said pin being secured to the back wall of said device, the lifting of said blade being accomplished by a push button switch, said pushbutton switch closing a circuit to said pair of magnets, one positioned above and the other positioned below said cutting blade so that when said switch is depressed, one of said magnets attracts while the other repels and thus holds said blade in the upper position.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein a second switch when depressed by the user of said device closes a circuit to reverse the polarity of said pair of magnets Which through magnetic flux action and the inertia of said blade will suddenly shear the strip from said envelope, said strip falling into a clipping receiving area within the body of said device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,407 9/1877 See 83--912 X 938,741 1l/1909 Campbell 83-912 X 1,197,788 9/1916 Bircher 83-912 X 1,833,549 11/1931 Anderson 83-912 X 2,592,699 4/ 1952 Iflland 83-912 X 2,679,098 5/1954 Deicken 83--912 X 3,260,445 7/1966 Wiseman 83-575 X FOREIGN PATENTS 803,269- 7/1949 Germany.

WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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