US2520463A - Grass cutter employing razor blades - Google Patents

Description

Aug, 29, 1950 c. A. HUBNER GRASS CUTTER EMPLOYING RAZOR BLADES Filed NOV. 2, 1945 w. w n N l Patented Aug. 29, 1950 GE FICE' GRA SS CUT TER EMPLOYING RAZOR' BLADES CornelilisrA; Hubner, Bloomingdale,./Nc .L

ApplicatinNivember 2, 19.45, Serial N0. 626,271

The 'invention here` disclosed relates' to ydevices forcutting grass 'and weeds', and the general objects of the invention are to providepraetieal and desirable means foredging: and trimming lawns and the like.

Specifically itis the purpose 'of theinvention to provide a` cutter which willloperatefwithf a short movement,r as distinguished from` the swinging action cf an4 ordinary sickle orthe like andwhich will `be light in'weight and small in size so that 'it may be used `in 'restricted-places and close against. obstructions,"such"as 'building Walls, trees and other liked objects.

Additionally it.` is a purpose of the 'invention to provide a cutter of the ldistinguishing'characteristics mentioned which, as it' becomes dulled with use, may have its cutting 'edge or' edgesieasily and quickly renewed and which `willbe of such design that renewal of the cutting 'edges mayjbe accomplished without' danger to `the-usen- Other desirable objectsandthefnovel features by which the purposes of `the'iriventioIr'are-fattained are set forth or willappcarinthevoourse of the following specification."

The drawing accompanying and iormingpart ci'.` the specification illustrates-certain present preferred embodiments of theinvention'. Structure, however, may be modiiiedfand` changedas regards the present illustration: all"witliirr 'the true intent Vand broad scope of `the'. iriventionas hereinafter defined and claimedf Fig. 1 in the drawing is aperspective view'i-ll'u'stratinga simple form Vof -the 'cutter using'singl'e edged razor blades for the cuttingredge';

Fig. 2 is a broken, part sectionalplan'viewof the handle end portion ofthe cutterV Fig. 3 is a broken cross .se'ctibnal viewason substantially theplane 'of line 31-301 Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similarview of `a double edged `form of the invention, made to .cutboth Ways? Fig. 5 is a broken sectional detail of' a form-oi the cuttermade to user double edgedrazor blades;

Fig. 6 Tis` an edge View of:` adoubi'eedged blade and a. hinged form. of...clamp fo'r `securing Athe same in the holder illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is asbroken, part sectional plan View of this modified form of the cutter; and

Fig. `8 fisf'a broken, iperspectivefviews of; azmodifled form of blade clamp forhuserinetlie holder.

As will :besclear from the several views, the invention involves the utilization of razor blades to provide a keen, sharpcutting edge and' thel provision of means `for holding these-f" blades firmly but 'readilyremovable'in proper-*cutting relation;

In a preferred formthe holder consists"of a single piece of spring'sheet metal fold'edl'iupon k:a claims (ol. fao-299) 2. itselffln two steps or stages, a base portion made upoi a rounded back Id` and closely spacedfparallel sides II and a clamping portion made-up of moreA closely spaced, substantially parallel jaw forming' strips l2 connected with the back strips I I by theV abruptly indented shoulders I3.

In rolling the sheet or strip material tothe form described, the parallel side portions are tensioned toward eachother in convergent relation so as to rmlyv grip razor blades which have'been slidinto position between them.

Figs. l and 3 show how the spacing of the relatively stepped portions` II and i2 is such as to accommodate reinforced back portions I4 of the blades between the more widely spaced parts II and the cutting blade portions I5 'between the more closely spaced lip or jaw parts I2.`

In nal assembly the blades will be held approximately as shown in Fig. 3` with the ilat parallel edgel 01'. jaw portions I2 rmly gripping the sides of the blades back of the cutting edge and the reinforced back portion freely received in the flat chamber4 formed by the spaced parallel side `portions III, in backpf the inwardly contracted shoulders I3. In. this manner the` gripping force is applied directly to .the blades, close up to the actual cutting edge, and the reinforced backs of the blades simply serve as abutments engaging the rounded Wall IIl at the back to limit, inward movement. ofV the-blades in the holder `and engaging the shoulders `It at the; iront to prevent or: limit outward. slipping movement. of` the blades.

The blade holder isfprovided with Ia suitable handle. In the illustration the rounded back. IIJ is; continued at one end .and the edges rolled together at I6 to form a substantially cylindrical tubular extension. This in itself may-be shaped as. a4 handle but usually it may be preferredto insert awire or rod'extension I'.' in thetubular portion; the. latter being 'offset and carrying :a suitable handle grip. I8.

The shape', lengthy extent. of offset and `other features` of the handle structure may-be Varied son ' bending of thin razor blades. also the blades are so rrnly held that they candered, welded or other suitable connection such as indicated at I9.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show how the blade holder may be made to take double edged blades 20, by providing a blade clamping insert which can be loaded and then slipped into position between the parallel side portions of the holder. In these views the same reference characters are employed since the holder structure is essentially the same, but it will be appreciated that actually the holder may be made with the parallel side portions formed slightly wider apart to take the blade holder insert, and possibly of less extent in width to leave the cutting edge portion vof the blade sufficiently exposed.

The blade holding insert shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 'l consists of a pair of hinge leaves 2| shaped to the iat, stepped contour of the spring holder and hingedly connected together at the back at 22. This insert is made of a length approximating that of the holder and is used by rst laying the blades end to end in the opened clamp, Fig. 6, and then inserting the clamp thus lled, endwise into the outer open end of the spring holder.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of insertable clamp structure embodying a U-bent sheet metal backing 23 having relatively wide and narrow side portions 2li, 25, adapted to readily receive the flatdouble edged blades 2li, and an insertable clamp strip 26 to overlie the blades and conned by the narrower jaw portion 25. Vv'hen the blades are made up into this sub-assembly, as illustrated in this view, the whole may then be slipped into the parallel sided spring holder.

The cutter constructed as disclosed is light but strong and the blades are rmly held with their cutting edges coextensive in substantial alignment and properly braced so as to act as eiiicient cutters.

The overall width of the device need only be slightly greater than the width of the blades, so the cutter as a whole constitutes only a relatively narrow assembly which can be reached into small places, as ior cutting grass and weeds which otherwise would be practically inaccessible.

The lightness of the implement facilitates and encourages use of the tool with a drawing or shaving type of cut, as distinguished from the long, swinging cut usually required with a sickle type of tool. This posibility of cutting with a draw stroke and with a short movement is a further feature in enabling use of the implement in restricted spaces.

The companion lips or jaws l2, being continuous and flat in extent, reinforce and prevent With this structure not accidentally slip out of place. On the other hand, it is a relatively simple matter to remove blades, as by engaging the innermost blade over the edge of a curb or other stationary object and pulling endwise on the handle. Conversely, fresh blades can be easily inserted by entering them oneafter another in the open, outer end of the holder and pushing them against some stationary objects. Y

These are simple operations through which the blades may be easily removed and inserted; Because of the effectiveness of the tool, old or used razor blades may be employed as well as new blades. The edges of the blade clamping jaws are shown as straight and continuous. If desired, though, these edges may be serrated, the points provided by such serrations acting as fingers to grip the blades. To prevent the tool accidentally digging into the ground, a ground engaging shoe or guard may be provided on the under side of the holder.

What is claimed is:

1. A grass cutting implement comprising an elongated integral one-piece holder of spring sheet material folded longitudinally on itself and having a rounded back portion with spaced sides projecting therefrom in substantially parallel relation, sharply indented shoulders at the outer edges of said spaced sides and closely approached continuous flat and unobstructed blade gripping jaws projecting from the inner portions of said indented shoulders, a plurality of razor blades in end-to-end abutting engagement in said holder, said blades having thickened back portions, said sides being spaced widely enough apart to receive the thickened back portions of said blades, said blades being disposed between said jaws and said indented shoulders being spaced from the rounded back a distance slightly greater than the width of the thickened back portions of the blades to thereby conne said back portions against lateral movement in opposite directions to hold the blades against outward or inward movement in said jaws and said spaced sides and blade gripping jaws being open at one end of the holder to admit entry of the blades there-between and the longitudinal sliding of successive blades into final position in the holder.

2. A grass cutting implement comprising an elongated integral one-piece holder of spring Asheet material folded longitudinally on itself and having a rounded back portion with spaced sides projecting therefrom in substantially. parallel relation, sharply indented shoulders at the outer edges of said spaced sides and closely approached continuous iiat and unobstructed blade gripping jaws projecting from the inner portions of said indented shoulders, a plurality of razor blades in end-to-end abutting engagement in said holder, said blades having thickened back portions, said sides being spaced widely enoughrapart to rei ceive the thickened back portions of said blades,

said blades being disposed between said jaws and said indented shoulders being spaced from the rounded back a distance slightly greater than the width of the thickened back portions of the blades to thereby conne said back portions against lateral movement in opposite directions to hold the blades against outward or inward movement in said jaws and said spaced sides and blade gripping jaws being open at one end of the holder to admit entry of the blades therebetween and the longitudinal sliding of successive blades into iinal position in the holder and said back portion being continued at the opposite end Yof the holder and rolled together into tubular form for a handle and partially closing the space between the sides to thereby form a stop preventing egress of the blades at such end of the holder.

CORNELIUS A. HUBNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Y Name Date 1,274,139 Clark July 30, 1918 1,680,824 Thompson Aug. 14, 1928 1,800,905 Rieif Apr. 14,- 1931 2,369,618 Stern Feb. 13, 1945 2,382,440 Peterson Aug. 14, 1945

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