US2852897A - Eraser cleaner and shaper - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1958 R. T. WOODWORTH ERASER CLEANER AND SHAPER Filed 061. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. M Z Waaanvri BY 7 f y My Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ERASER QLEANER AND SHAPER Ruth T. Woodworth, Stillwater, Minn.

Application October 26, 1956, Serial No, 618,549

2 Claims. (Cl. 51-214) My invention provides a novel device for the cleaning of erasers and the sharpening of the erasing edge portions thereof, when necessary.

While my device has general application to the cleaning of all relatively small rubber type erasers, it has particular application to the cleaning and/or sharpening of the relatively flat disk-like erasers commonly used by stenographers and the like in the erasing of and making corrections to typewritten papers. In such work, the typist frequently finds it essential and desirable, not only to clean oflf certain portions of the eraser prior to making erasures therewith, but also to narrow the erasing surface so as to engage only a relatively small area on the paper without overlapping or smudging the adjacent type.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is extremely inexpensive to produce, which ishighly efiicient in its operation, and which is durable.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which includes a pair of telescoping upper and lower containerforming sections, said top wall of said upper section being provided with a central elongated rectangular slot, into which the abraded away material from the eraser being cleaned may fall and collect, to be eventually emptied. Such an arrangement obviously makes for a maximum of cleanliness and neatness.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described wherein all four sides of the top walls adjacent said slot, taper downwardly in the direction of the slot, whereby to create a maximum of cooperating abrasive surfaces for the sharpening and cleaning of the erasers.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel structure showing use thereof in the cleaning and/ or abrading away of an eraser to a desired shape,

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the structure of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section as seen substantially from the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring-with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a generally cylindrical container comprising a pair of cup-like upper and lower sections 2 and 3 respectively, which have a telescopic relationship, as shown in Fig. 4. The top wall 4 of upper section 2 is formed to provide a central rectangular slot 5 which extends axially outwardly from the center thereof in opposite directions, the opposite ends 6 of said slot 5 terminating in spaced relation to the side edge 7 of the top wall 4.

It will be noted that a generally rectangular sheet of abrasive paper 8 is suitably adhered to the upper surface of the top Wall 4. The central portion of the abrasive sheeting 8 is provided with a slot 5a corresponding to the slot 5 in the top wall 4 of the upper section 2. Also preferably, and as shown, the abrasive sheeting 8 extends laterally outwardly in all directions from the slot 5.

An important feature of my invention, is that the top wall 4, on all four sides of the slot 5, tapers downwardly in the direction of the slot 5. Thus, the tapered portions on opposite longitudinal edges of the slot 5 are indicated by the numeral 9, whereas the tapered portions on the opposite ends 6 thereof, are identified by the numeral 10. As shown, the abrasive sheeting 8 covers not only the downwardly tapering portions 9 and 10, but also a considerable portion of the top wall 4 laterally outwardly thereof.

When it is desired to clean or sharpen an eraser X with my novel structure, above described, the operator may move said eraser back and forth along either the downwardly tapering abrasive surfaces 9 and 10, or along the flat abrasive surfaces immediately adajcent thereto, as a particular situation seems to require. The abraded away material from the eraser X tends to enter the interior of the casing 1 through the slot 5. However, to assure that all of the abraded away material from the eraser X enters the container 1 through the slot 5 (irrespective of whether said material overlies the tapered or flat portions of the top 4), said container may be tilted in a direction to cause said material to enter the slot 5 under gravity and the peripheral edge 11 of the bottom section 3 of the container 1 tapped upon any relatively solid object. Obviously the content of the container 1 may be dumped when desired by separating the telescoping sections 2 and 3.

The angular tapering surfaces 9 and 10, which converge along the lines 12, are extremely useful in achieving V- shaped edges on the periphery of the eraser X.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be satisfactory in the accomplishment of the objects above set forth; and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a container comprising upper =and lower telescoping cup-like sections, the intermediate portion of the top wall of said upper section being formed to provide an elongated rectangular slot the opposite ends of which terminate in spaced relation to the side edges thereof, said top wall on all four sides of said slot being formed to provide surface portions which taper downwardly in the direction of said slot, and an abrasive covering on said top wall encompassing said opening including said tapered surfaces.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said covering comprises a sheet of abrasive material adhered to said top wall, said sheet and abrasive surface thereon extending laterally outwardly of said tapered surfaces in all directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 575,947 Hart Ian. 26, 1897 901,622 Kann Oct. 20, 1908 1,063,443 Hays June 3, 1913

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