Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02268851 1999-04-13
CANADIAN PATENT APPLICATION
HILL & SCHUMACHER
CUSHIONED STRAIGHT EDGE AND CUTTING DEVICE
Inventor: Terenci Gilbert DeMeo
CA 02268851 1999-04-13
CUSHIONED STRAIGHT EDGE AND CUTTING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to straight edges and in particular straight edges
used in the wall covering installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are a wide variety of tools used in the construction and decorating
trades. These tools vary widely in their function and design. The construction
and
decorating trades include such things as wall coverings installation.
Wall covering installation is particularly challenging where thick, textured
wall covering is being installed, where there are imperfections on the work
surface and
where the wall covering is particularly thin and delicate. Where the wall
covering is
thick and textured it can be difficult to obtain a smooth double cut where
adjacent
pieces of wall coverings are being joined. In addition, it is often difficult
to cut a straight
vertical line without damaging the wall coverings and without slipping or
misaligning the
line. It is difficult to hold a rigid straight edge to a wall covering, push
the wall covering
onto a wall with an irregular surface and cut a straight line without the wall
covering
moving, the wall covering ripping or the straight edge slipping.
A number of devices have been suggested to aid in the construction and
decorating trades. For example, U.S. patent 5,279,041 issued to Wright on
January
18, 1994 shows a device having an elongate ruler or straight edge, a body or
base
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portion and a number of levels. The straight edge is arranged such that when
the
device is placed against a working surface the straight edge is closely
adjacent to but
spaced from the working surface, however the body and base portion rest
against the
working surface but spaced from the straight edge. This device helps the user
to cut a
horizontal straight line or a vertical straight line but it does not provide
any method for
minimizing the risk of damaging the wall coverings or dealing with
imperfections in the
wall surface.
Another device is shown in U.S. patent 4,660,292 issued to Richardson
on April 28, 1987. This device is a combination measuring device, level and
plumb.
This device includes an L-shaped block which is mounted generally in the
centre of an
elongate planar member with a straight edge. A level is mounted on each arm of
the
block so that the measuring device can be positioned horizontally or
vertically. The
measuring device includes two scales arranged such that the measuring device
can be
used to measure distance longer than one length of the measuring device
without
having to perform any arithmetic. The elongate planar member rests against the
working surface. Similarly, this device provides a method for measuring
distances with
a straight edge but it does not provide any method for minimizing the risk of
damaging
the wall coverings or dealing with imperfections in the wall surface.
Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a device that includes a
straight edge that reduces the risk of damaging the wall coverings and
provides a
method of dealing with imperfections in the wall surface.
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CA 02268851 1999-04-13
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cushioned straight edge and cutting device.
The device includes a body, a handle and a resiliently deformable cushioned
portion.
The body has an upper portion and a straight edge spaced below the upper
portion.
The handle is attached to the upper portion. The resiliently deformable
cushioned
portion is attached to the body and extends below the upper portion.
Further features of the invention will be described or will become
apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The following is a description, by way of example only, of the cushioned
straight edge constructed in accordance with the present invention, reference
being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a cushioned straight edge
and cutting device of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of an assembled cushioned straight
edge and cutting device of the present invention taken along line 2-2 of
figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a cushioned
straight edge and cutting device of the present invention showing an alternate
handle;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of
cushioned straight edge and cutting device of the present invention showing
one
handle similar to that shown in figure 1;
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Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of the
cushioned straight edge and cutting device of the present invention showing a
plurality
of finger holes; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the
cushioned straight edge and cutting device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the cushioned straight edge and cutting
device of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The cushioned
straight edge
10 includes an elongate body 12 having a straight edge 14, a handle or grip
16, and a
resiliently deformable or cushioned portion 18.
The elongate body 12 has an upper portion 20, a straight edge 14 and a
restraining lip 22. The angle between the upper portion 20 and the straight
edge 14 is
approximately 120°. The angle between the upper portion and the
restraining lip 22 is
approximately 90°. Body 12 has a hole 19 formed therein so that a user
could hang
device 10 on a nail or the like. Preferably the body is made of stainless
steel and then
bent into the required shape. Preferably the corners of straight edge 14 are
slightly
rounded.
The cushioned portion 18 is preferably made of slip resistant rubber. The
cushioned portion facilitates the user when positioning the straight edge
close to an
area that has some surface imperfections or where the user is cutting through
two
layers of wall coverings. In addition the slip resistant cushioned portion 18
aids the
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user in reducing the likelihood of the device moving during use. The slip
resistant
cushioned portion 18 reduces the likelihood of the device slipping especially
as
compared to straight edges made of polished metal. Preferably cushioned
portion 18
is made from water resistant neoprene rubber.
The upper surface 24 of cushioned portion 18 generally has the same
dimensions as the undersurface 25 of body 12. The cushioned portion 18 is
generally
trapezoidal in its cross sectional shape. The cushioned portion 18 is in
registration with
and attached to the undersurface 25 of body 12. The sloped portion 27 is
spaced
from the straight edge 14 as shown in figure 2. The bottom surface 26 of
cushioned
portion 18 extends slightly below the straight edge 14 (as best shown in
figure 3) so
that a slight pressure on cushioned straight edge cutting device 10 will bring
the
straight edge 14 into contact with the work surface. Therefore, the cushioned
portion
extends below the straight edge in the at rest position, but under pressure,
it may be
deformed so that the bottom surface 26 is parallel to the straight edge 14.
Note that
the space between the sloped portion 27 of cushioned portion 18 and the
straight edge
14 provides a space into which the cushioned portion may expand when pressure
is
exerted thereon. Especially where there are surface irregularities on the work
place
the cushioned portion may be deformed so that the bottom surface 26 is
parallel to the
straight edge 14. Alternatively the cushioned portion 48 may be rectangular in
cross
section as shown in figures 5 and 6. Each cushioned portion 18 and 48 has a
hole 21
formed therein which is in registration with hole 19.
Referring to figure 1 a pair of handles 16 are attached to body 12 to allow
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the user to easily grip and manoeuvre the device 10. Preferably the handles 16
are
slightly off centre to allow the user to easily use the straight edge 14 as a
cutting guide.
In addition, level holder 28 is attached to the body so that the user can
ensure that it is positioned correctly. Level holder 28 includes two levels 29
positioned
at right angles to each other. The level holder 28 is positioned with two
holes 31 and
may be attached to body 12 with adhesive, screws or other fastener.
Optionally ruler markings 30 may be provided on the straight edge 14, as
shown in figures 4 and 5. Ruler markings 30 could be stamped into the
stainless steel
straight edge 14 or attached thereto with a decal.
A couple of alternate grip arrangements are shown in figures 3, 4 and 5.
Figure 3 shows a handle 32 which extends the length of the device. Handle 32
has a
constant profile along the length of the device. It may be made from extruded
plastic
with the straight edge 14 attached thereto. Alternatively figure 4 shows a
device similar
to figures 1 and 2 but with only one handle 16. Figure 5 shows another
alternative
wherein a series of finger holes 34 are provided as a way to grip device 36.
Each hole
34 has rubber protector 38 therearound.
Referring to figure 6 an alternate body 40 includes holder portion 42 and
a straight edge 44 attached thereto. Preferably, holder portion 42 is made
from
extruded plastic, such as polypropylene. A handle is suitably attached
thereto.
Alternatively, a handle could be integrally attached to holder portion 42 and
integrally
formed during the extrusion process.
Thus it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cushioned
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straight edge and cutting device 10 of the present invention has a number of
features
that will be very useful in the wall coverings trades. Specifically the device
10 can be
used as a level, a drawing tool or a guide for a straight edge cut. It can be
used for
horizontal or vertical lines. It will help to protect the working surface and
wall covering
while the user is using it to level and cut a straight edge. Further, it can
be used to
pressure hold wall coverings against minor surface irregularities and wall
contours.
This helps to minimize the slippage of the wall covering during installation.
The handle
allows the user to hold the device with one hand while cutting with the other
and it
helps to reduce slipping when the user is cutting wall coverings.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cushioned straight
edge and cutting device 10 of the present invention could be made in a variety
of sizes.
For example the device could be 2 feet or 3 feet long by 3 inches wide with a
cushioned portion of 1/2 inch. Alternatively the device could be primarily for
office use
and 16 inches long by 2 inches wide with a cushioned portion of 1/4 inch.
It will be appreciated that the above description is related to one
embodiment by way of example only. Many variations on the invention will be
obvious
to those skilled in the art and such obvious variations are within the scope
of the
invention as described herein whether or not expressly described.
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