Field of the Invention

[001 ] The present invention relates to a device for cutting stitches in material.

Background to the Invention

[001 ] When sewing, it may be required to undo a seam that has been stitched to join two pieces of material. A commonly available tool provided to perform this task is often referred to as a seam ripper. This device comprises a shaft having a forked head. One side of the forked head includes a sharpened inner edge so that it may be inserted into a stitch and then pulled to sever the thread. While such a device performs the task adequately, it can be quite a time-consuming task.

[002] The present invention relates to a stitch cutting device aimed at making the process of severing such stitching easier and quicker.

Summary of the Invention

[003] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a stitch cutting device comprising:

a body;

a securing device provided adjacent a lower end of the body for securing the body to a work surface; and

a blade mounted adjacent an upper end of the body; and

a blade guard secured adjacent the blade such that a cutting edge of the blade is covered by the blade guard when the blade guard is in a closed position; wherein the blade guard is moveable from the closed position to an open position such that that portions of material connected by thread may be moved either side of the blade to sever the thread.

[004] Preferably the blade is mounted in an arm extending outwardly from the body such that the cutting edge is lowermost and a first end of the blade guard is pivotally mounted adjacent a proximal end of the arm below the arm.

[005] In a preferred embodiment, the blade guard comprises a planar elongate member having a groove in an upper edge thereof such that the cutting edge of the blade is received within the groove when the blade guard is in the closed position.

[006] Preferably the arm includes a curved lower edge from which the cutting edge of blade extends, and the blade guard includes a curved upper edge being complementary in shape to the curved lower edge of the arm.

[007] Preferably the blade guard includes a closing mechanism such that the blade guard may be held in the closed position when not in use.

[008] In a preferred embodiment, the closing mechanism comprises a magnet within the blade guard to secure the blade guard relative to the arm in the closed position.

[009] Preferably the body includes a head adjacent the upper end such that the arm extends outwardly from a first side surface of the head.

[010] Preferably the head of the body includes one or more lights such that the lights illuminate around the blade.

[01 1 ] Preferably the head includes a cavity in which the lights are provided, the cavity being closable by a cover.

[012] In a preferred embodiment, a secondary cutting device is provided mounted to a secondary arm located between upper and lower ends of the body. [013] Preferably the secondary arm includes an aperture extending into a side surface thereof and the secondary cutting device comprises a standard seam ripper received into the aperture such that the seam ripper extends outwardly along a horizontal axis being general perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

[014] Preferably the secondary arm is curved such that the secondary arm extends downwardly and away from the first side surface.

[015] Preferably the first side surface of the body includes a lower portion located below the secondary arm being convex in shape.

[016] In a preferred embodiment, the first side surface includes an upper portion extending away from the secondary cutting device to a location under the arm, the upper portion being angled away from the vertical in a direction away from the proximal end of the secondary arm.

[017] In a preferred embodiment, the securing device comprises a U-shaped clamp member, a first side portion of which is received in a slot provided adjacent a lower end of the body, the clamp member including a threaded shaft received in a hole in a second side portion such that the threaded shaft 4 can be rotated to move the threaded shaft to clamp the stitch cutting device to an object.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[018] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[019] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a stitch cutting device in accordance with the present invention;

[020] Figure 2 is a side view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[021 ] Figure 3 is a front view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[022] Figure 4 is a top view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ; [023] Figure 5a is an upper perspective view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[024] Figure 5b is a lower perspective view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[025] Figure 6 is a view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 showing the cover and the arm removed from the head;

[026] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[027] Figure 8a is an upper perspective view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 ;

[028] Figure 8b is an upper perspective view of the stitch cutting device with the secondary cutting device removed;

[029] Figure 9a is a side view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 showing portions of material being separated by the blade;

[030] Figure 9b is an upper perspective view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 showing portions of material being separated by the blade;

[031 ] Figure 10a is an upper perspective view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 showing a stitched hem being separated by the secondary cutting device; and

[032] Figure 10b is a side view of the stitch cutting device of Figure 1 showing the stitched hem being separated by the secondary cutting device.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[033] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a stitch cutting device 10 comprising a body 12 having a lower end 14 and an upper end 15. The lower end 14 includes a securing device 16 provided to secure the lower end 14 of the body 12 to a work surface, such as the edge of a table.

[034] The securing device 16 comprises a U-shaped clamp member 18 securable to the lower end 14 of the body 12. The lower end 14 of the body 12 includes a slot 20 into which a first side portion 22 of the clamp member 18 is received. The edge of the table can then be received between the first side portion 22 of the clamp member 18 and a parallel second side portion 23. A threaded shaft 24 is received in a hole 26 in the second side portion 23 such that the threaded shaft 24 can be rotated to move the threaded shaft 24 towards the table, thereby securing the clamp member 18 to the table. The threaded shaft 24 includes a disc 28 on an end adjacent the lower end 14 of the body 12 to engage the table.

[035] The body 12 comprises an elongate member to extend vertically in use, when the lower end 14 is secured by the securing device 16. The body 12 includes a head 30 adjacent the upper end 15 thereof. The head 30 includes a blade support member 32 extending outwardly therefrom for supporting a blade 34. The blade support member 32 extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 12, such that the blade support member 32 extends horizontally outwardly from a first side surface 64 of the body 12.

[036] The blade support member 32 comprises an arm 36 extending outwardly from the first side surface of the body 12. The arm 36 is generally planar and is oriented in a vertical plane in use. The arm 36 includes the blade 34 secured within the arm 36 such that a cutting edge of the blade 34 extends outwardly from a lower edge 40 of the arm 36. The lower edge 40 of the arm 36 is curved such that the straight cutting edge of the blade is exposed to a greater degree at the centre of the cutting edge than at the ends of the cutting edge (as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7).

[037] The arm 36 is detachable from the head 30 such that the arm 36 and the blade 34 may be replaced. The head 30 includes a first connector 80 on the first side surface 64. The arm 36 includes a second connector 81 on a first end thereof, such that the second connector 81 is attachable to and releasable from the first connector 80. The first connector 80 in the embodiment shown comprises a rail 82 including a widened outer end extending vertically along the first side surface 64 of the head 30. The second connector 81 comprises a channel member 83 having a complementary channel therein such that the rail 82 can be engaged with the channel member 83 by sliding. [038] An upper edge of the arm 36 includes a proximal portion 37 which is oriented generally horizontally in use and a distal portion 39 which is angled downwardly away from the proximal portion 37

[039] The stitch cutting device 10 is also provided with a blade guard 44. The blade guard 44 comprises an elongate member 45 mounted to extend outwardly from the body 12 below the arm 36. The blade guard 44 is generally planar and oriented in a vertical plane. The blade guard 44 has a groove 46 in an upper edge thereof provided to receive the lower edge of the blade 34. A first end of the elongate member 45 is pivotally secured to the body 12 adjacent and below a proximal end of the arm 36. The guard member 44 is thereby moveable between a closed position (as shown in Figure 1 ) and an open position (as shown in Figure 9a). In the closed position, the blade guard 44 extends adjacent and parallel to the blade 34 such that the lower edge of the blade 34 is received within the groove 46. In the open position, the distal end of the blade guard 44 moves downwardly away from the cutting edge of the blade 34 such that material may be moved towards the lower edge of the blade 34 to sever stitches.

[040] The upper edge 48 of the elongate member 45 is arcuate such that the upper edge is higher in the centre than adjacent the ends when the blade guard 44 is in the closed position. The upper edge 48 is complementary in shape to the shape of the curved lower edge 40 of the arm 36.

[041 ] The blade guard 44 includes a securing mechanism such that the blade guard 44 may be held in the closed position when not in use. The closing mechanism may comprise a magnet within the blade guard 44 to secure the blade guard 44 relative to the arm 36 in the closed position. The magnet may also secure the blade guard 44 against the body 12 in the open position.

[042] The head 30 of the body 12 includes one or more lights 54. In the embodiment shown, the head 30 is provided with a cavity 56 into which is received a circuit board 58. Lights 54 are provided on the circuit board and extend out through openings in the head 30 such that the lights 54 illuminate around the blade 34. The lights 54 may comprise LED lights and the circuit board 58 is provided with a battery 60 to power the lights 54. A cover 62 is provided to be secured over the cavity 56.

[043] The first side surface 64 of the body 12 includes a lower portion 66 being convex in shape. Located adjacent an upper end of the lower portion 66 is a secondary cutting device 68.

[044] The secondary cutting device 68 is provided on the end of a secondary arm 70 which extends outwardly from the upper end of the lower portion 66. The secondary arm 70 is curved such that the secondary arm 70 extends downwardly and away from the first side surface 64.

[045] The secondary arm 70 includes an aperture 74 extending into a side surface thereof. The secondary cutting device 68 in the embodiment shown comprises a standard seam ripper 69. The aperture 74 is provided for receiving the handle of a seam ripper 69 such that the seam ripper 69 extends outwardly along a horizontal axis being general perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 36.

[046] The first side surface 64 includes an upper portion 67 extending away from the secondary cutting device 68 to a location under the arm 36. The upper portion 67 is angled away from the vertical in a direction away from the proximal end of the arm 36.

[047] In use, the stitch cutting device 10 may be secured to a work surface such as a sewing desk. When it is required to separate two pieces of material held together by stitching, the blade guard 44 is opened and each piece of material is held in one hand with the stitching under the arm 36. The material is pushed between the blade guard 44 and the blade 34, as can be seen in Figure 9. By moving the material upwardly and away, the cutting edge of the blade 34 contacts the stitches as the material is pulled apart. The stitches are thereby severed and the material separated.

[048] In the case of a hem, the secondary cutting device 68 may be used as shown in Figure 10. The material can be held securely in both hands and moved horizontally across into the seam ripper 69 blade to separate the hem. [049] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.