US1082400A - Envelop-opener. - Google Patents

Description

W. N. BURNITE. BNVELOP OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1912.

1,082,400, Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

.NITE, a citizen of the United States, and a UNITED @TATEfi \VILLIAM NEL$QN EURITITE,

( F RIVERI-IEAD, NEW YORK.

ENVELOP-OPENER.

Specification of roseaoo.

Application filed May 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. BUR- resident of Riverhead, in the county of Suf folk and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Envelop-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

This invention relates to stationary articles and particularly to devices for opening envelops or the like by means of a cut ter adapted to cut a slit closely parallel one of the lateral edges or ends of the envelop.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a device of this character which will be simpler of construction and operation than those heretofore usually proposed, and which, because of such simple construc tion, will be more durable and reliable than usual.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by the mechanism hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views and in which Figure 1 is a general view indicating the manner of use of the preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device; Big. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4t is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the device is formed.

Referring to the drawings for a specific description of the construction, 1 show at 10 a substantially tl-shaped spring sheet metal body structure, the opposing ends of which constitute or provide the effective opening or cutting portion of the device. The upper end 11 is shown provided with a knife point or cutter'12, the cutter being extended through and secured rigidly and permanently in a slot 11 in any convenient nanner as by soldering or swaging. Said cutter is arranged preferably with its longer axis at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body 10, or in a plane at right angles to the body, but which plane is arranged at an oblique angle to the axis of the body. Adjacent the end 11 there is provided a guide notch 13 of any suitable form and arranged preferably along one edge of the body member.

The opposite or lower end of the body 10, as indicated at 14:, is shown provided at 15 Letters Patent.

Patented 23,1913.

Serial No. 696,456.

with a soft metal filler disposed immediately below or in line with the point of the cutter 12. This filler provides a suitable backing for the cutter in use, whereby it may perform its cutting ope aliens and be maintained sharp for a long period of time and constant use which would be impossible if said cutter point were permitted to impinge against the harder spring metal structure. Said end 1 1, furthermore, closely adjacent the filler 15, is slit at 1-1 whereby there is formed a right-angularly extending finger 16 adapted to register with the aforesaid notch 13, guiding the ends in their cooperation during the cutting, and also constituting a guide for the edge of the envelop being opened, the said edge being adapted to bear against said finger as indicated at E, It will be understood, of course, that the path of the cutter, as indicated ate, Fig. 1, will be comparatively close to the edge of the envelop and said finger 16, whereby it will be practically impossible for the contents of the envelop to be damaged during the opening operation.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the device is preferably formed from a flat blank of sheet metal of substantially uniform thickness, the slot 11, notch 13, and slit 1 1 being formed simultaneously with the operation of the die in cutting the blank. The filler 15 may be applied in any convenient manner, and, for example, may constitute a drop of solder applied at the time the cutter 12 is secured in place. The cutter is preferably constructed of hard steel, and being protected in the manner set forth, will last practically indefinitely. It is to be noted, also, that the device in its finished form will be neat in appearance and may be carried readily in the vest pocket or otherwise without danger of damage to itself or the person of the one carrying it.

During the operation of opening the envelop, the implement is grasped or held between the thumb and finger of one hand, while the envelop is being held in the other hand, and then the opener is drawn along the edge to be opened in the direction indicated by the arrow marked on the end 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this direction coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the cutter above referred to. The force of the operators fingers as applied to the device will be in proportion to the character of the paper being cut, and will be applied, too, in

both directions, the force of the thumb upon the ends 11 being opposed by the force upon the end 1%. The form of said end 14: being thin along its margin provides that. if it should happen in any particular case that the slit 6 is not deep enough throughout its length, said edge or point of the end let may be inserted into the slit and the device used in a manner similar to the use of a paper knife or common envelop opener to force the slit entirely open.

The device may be made of any suitable material which will meet the requirements above indicated, and the relative sizes and proportions of the parts or features thereof may be modified as found most expedient without departing materially from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An envelop opener, comprising a U- shaped body of flat spring material, one of the members of the body being provided on its inner face adjacent to its end with an inclined slot and a notch in one longitudinal edge in rear of and adjacent to the slot, the other member of the body being provided with a finger struck up from one longitudinal edge of the member and extending laterally therefrom and working loosely in the notch of the other member, said finger serving as a guide for the members and the edge of the envelop, and a cutter secured in said s 0t.

2. A blank for an envelop opener, consisting of a strip of fiat spring metal having adjacent to one end an inclined slot to receive a cutter and in one longitudinal edge adjacent the slot a notch, and having adjacent to' its other end a longitudinally extending slit leading out through the edge of the strip whereby to form a guide finger to engage the notch when the strip is bent into U-shape.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM NELSON BURNITE.

WVitnesses JOHN S. HOWE, MARY WILD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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