1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cloth cutters and more particularly to cutters for forming a fringe on the edge of a fabric.
2. Description of the Related Art
To make a tie and cut blanket or pillow, a person layers two fabrics each fabric having two or more yards of material, one on top of the other, with the edges of the two layers being in alignment with each other. One layer will become the top of the blanket and the other layer will be the back. At this time the two layers can be pinned together. However, it has been found that the layers will remain aligned and not move relative to each other when not pinned. In addition, not pinning saves a step in preparing the layered fabrics for fringing.
Prior to creating a 4 inch fringe alone each edge of the layered fabrics, a 4×4 inch square is cut out of each corner of the layered fabrics and is discarded. A tape measure across the top of the four inch cuts that are to be made can be used to help make the strips are about 1 inch wide and only four inches deep. Now, using hand operated scissors, 4 inch slits are cut into the layered fabrics at 1″ intervals around all four sides.
It is here noted, for example, that a significant amount of time will be spent measuring and marking the layered fabrics where the slits are to be made, and if the layered fabrics measures 50 inches by 70 inches, about 240 slits will be cut into the layered fabrics that are one inch wide and four inches long by a person with a hand operated scissors.
A pair of very sharp scissors is required. If the scissors are dull, it will take a lot longer to complete and require a significant amount of effort.
After the cuts are made around all four sides of the layered fabrics, one strip from the front fabric and one strip from the back fabric are tied with an overhand knot to close the blanket edge and create a finished fringe edge.
A faster and easier way of cutting a fringe in at least one fabric is needed. The present invention may be used for blankets or pillows or any other product needing fabric cut to at least one string like length around the perimeter of a piece of material.
To overcome the shortcomings noted above, there is disclosed a fabric cutter for making a fringe on an edge of a fabric comprising:
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claim of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the conception and specific embodiment as a base for designing or modifying the structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other features do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.
Referring to
Looking at
The top of the base member supports a plurality of rectangular openings 30 having sharp metal edges. The rectangular openings or slits are sized to receive and provide a cutting action with cutting blades. The edges of the rectangular openings and the cutting blades are designed to cut a fabric located on top of the openings as the cutting blade is urged to move into the rectangular opening.
The top of the base member supports eleven rectangular openings which will permit eleven cuts to be made simultaneously. It is understood, however, that the number of rectangular openings having sharp metal cutting edges can be greater or less than eleven. The number of openings in the top of the base member is determined by the number of cuts and, therefore, the number of strips that are to be made simultaneously.
Located on each side 14 of the base member is a spring clip 32. Each spring slip is attached to a side 14 with a pin 34. The spring clips are provided to hold in place a cloth which is positioned on top of the rectangular openings. The spring clips have a length that is more that four inches to permit them to capture a cloth where one part has been cut with a fringe of four inches.
Located in one side 14 of the base member below the spring clip 32 and under the various openings or slits 30 is a pull out draw 36. Draw 36 is provided to collect threads, cuttings or other material which falls or is pushed down through the openings 30.
Referring to
The cutter blades are firmly secured to the inside surface of the lever member with, for example an epoxy or some other material, and they are positioned to be in alignment with rectangular openings or slits in the base member. Thus, as the lever member is moved down toward the base member, each cutter blade will be in alignment with and be received by a rectangular opening 30 which is a receiving slit in the base member for receiving the cutting blade. The cutter blades can be of equal size so that they all contact a fabric located on top of the rectangular openings at the same time, or the cutting blades can be of different sizes or shapes to allow them to contact a fabric sequentially.
Continuing with
Looking at
When the lever member is raised, the guard member is urged to assume its extended position by spring 48. As lever member is being moved down toward the base member, the guard member will contact the top 28 of the base member and be urged to move up into the lever member as the lever member and cutting blades continue to move down.
In operation, the edges of two layered cloths are positioned on the surface 28 of the base member and locked in position by spring clips 32, and lever member is moved down toward base member. As the cutting blades of the lever member contact the layered cloth, the guard member is urged to move up into the lever member by the base member as the cutting blades press into and begin to cut the layered cloths. Continued downward movement of the cutting blades into the eleven rectangular openings will make a fringe of 10 uniform strips of fabric four inches long and one inch wide in the edge of the two layers of fabrics.
Thus, the fringe forming structure of the present invention can be used independently to cut up to ten or more strips of layered fabric with one action of its lever without requiring a user to measure the fabric.
Although a few examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes might be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/044,478, filed 12 Apr. 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090255131 A1 | Oct 2009 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61044478 | Apr 2008 | US |