Wallpaper border cutter device

The present invention is directed to a wallpaper border cutter device which is used for trimming wallpaper at a preselected level below a ceiling. The device includes a base which has a substantially flat face surface and is of adequate thickness to support wheels. Additionally, it has a protruding member extending outwardly from the face surface for receiving a slidable blade holder. There is a first plurality of wheels mounted on the base in a plane at about 90.degree. to the face surface of the base for rolling the cutter device along a wall as well as a second plurality of wheels mounted on the base for rolling the cutting device along the ceiling and in combination with the first plurality of wheels for rolling the cutting device simultaneously along a wall and a ceiling. The device also includes a plurality of parallel blade holder mounting slots which are located on the protruding member for slidably mounting a blade holder as well as at least one cutting slot and in a preferred embodiment two cutting slots located on the base for permitting a portion of the blade to extend therethrough. A blade holder is removably and slidably mounted in the plurality of parallel blade holder mounting slots and a locking mechanism is connected to the blade holder and at least one of the parallel blade holder mounting slots so as to permit temporary locking of the blade holder at a preselected location along the plurality of parallel blade holder mounting slots. A blade receiver and clamping mechanism is attached to the blade holder and located to receive a glade in a clamped position so that a cutting edge would extend into a cutting slot located on the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is directed to wallpaper border cutters and more 
particularly to such devices which enable the user to make even, smooth 
cuts in wallpaper for subsequent hanging of a wallpaper border. Thus, the 
present invention cutter device is a tool for simplifying and increasing 
the efficiency of hanging wallpaper which includes separately hangable 
borders. 
2. Prior Art Statements 
Mechanical cutters have been known for many decades and have been designed 
to facilitate the speed with which users cut various materials as well as 
to aid in determining particular width, depths or other dimensions of 
cuttings. Thus, in general, the prior art describes implements for cutting 
linoleum, cardboard, paperboard, wood and the like and the prior art is 
exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,007,395 to George 0. Howard; 2,601,183 to 
Phillip H. Unsinger; 2,641,834 to Stanley F. Bobrowski et al.; 2,880,506 
to Charles H. Zimmerman. Each of these patents show various types of 
cutting implements which basically are designed to slide along an edge of 
a board or linoleum or the like and have a blade holder. In most cases, 
the devices also include means for adjusting the cutting widths. Regarding 
the art of specifically cutting wallpaper and devices for paperhanging in 
general, the art is typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,004,426 issued to Arthur 
Gelleff; 4,077,124 issued to Norbert Christmann; and 4,501,069 issued to 
Seiji Kohno. These patents show various types of devices for holding a 
blade in place with sliders or alignment possibilities designed to allow 
the operator to cut straight lines of desired widths. 
Notwithstanding the prior art, no prior art patent teaches or renders 
obvious the device of the present invention which calls for a unique 
cutting device which travels simultaneously along a wall and a ceiling on 
free spinning wheels and yet has an adjustable blade which may be present 
at a selected distance from the ceiling and which holds a cutting blade in 
place for smooth parallel cutting so as to enable the use to rapidly glide 
across hung wallpaper to cut and remove the top portion to create an even 
edge for abutment with a separately hung wallpaper border which will meet 
flush with the wallpaper in the same plane. Further, in a preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, a blade holder is slidably removable 
and may be reversed so the device may be moved along a wall from left to 
right or from right to left, either to allow left handed or right handed 
person to use it comfortably or to permit reversable directions in ackward 
locations. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a wallpaper border cutter device which 
is used for trimming wallpaper at a preselected level below a ceiling. The 
device includes a base which has a substantially flat face surface and is 
of adequate thickness to support wheels. Additionally, it has a protruding 
member extending outwardly from the face surface for receiving a slidable 
blade holder. There is a first plurality of wheels mounted on the base in 
a plane at about 90.degree. to the face surface of the base for rolling 
the cutter device along a wall as well as a second plurality of wheels 
mounted on the base in a plane parallel to the face surface of the base 
for rolling the cutting device along a ceiling and in combination with the 
first plurality of wheel for rolling the cutting device simultaneously 
along a wall and a ceiling. The device also includes a plurality of 
parallel blade holder mounting slot which are located on the protruding 
member for slidably mounting a blade holder as well as at least one 
cutting slot and in a preferred embodiment two cutting slots located on 
the base for permitting a portion of the blade to extend therethrough. A 
blade holder is removably and slidably mounted in the plurality of 
parallel blade holder mounting slots and a locking mechanism is connected 
to the blade holder and at least one of the parallel blade holder mounting 
slots so as to permit temporary locking of the blade holder at a 
preselected location along the plurality of parallel blade holder mounting 
slots. A blade receiver and clamping mechanism is attached to the blade 
holder and located to receive a blade in a clamped position so that a 
cutting edge would extend into a cutting slot located on the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to efficient, accurate cutting of prehung 
wallpaper for removal of irregular top edges and for creation of space 
against portion of the wall paper for the subsequent hanging of a separate 
wallpaper border strip. The present invention is directed to the 
simultaneous movement of the device along both a wall and a ceiling while 
providing for a cutting blade which is slidably adjustable and removable 
and which, in its preferred embodiments, may be reversed for either left 
hand use or right hand use. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown wallpaper cutter device 1 for 
trimming wallpaper at a selected level below a ceiling and this. includes 
a base 2 having a substantially flat face surface 3 which is of adequate 
thickness to support wheels as shown. Base 2 also has a protruding member 
21 which extends outwardly from said face surface 3 for receiving a 
slidable blade holder 31. A first plurality of wheels, in this case wheels 
7, 9, 11 and 13, are mounted on said base in planes at about 90.degree. to 
the face surface 3, as shown, for rolling the cutter device along a wall. 
A second plurality of wheels 15 and 17 are mounted on the base 2 in a 
plane parallel t face surface 3 for rolling the cutter device 1 along a 
ceiling. Thus, first plurality of wheels 7, 9, 11 and 13 and second 
plurality of wheels 15 and 17, when working together, enable one to 
simultaneously move the device in a gliding, smooth fashion along both a 
wall and a ceiling parallel to the wall surface and to the ceiling 
surface. A plurality of blade holder mounting slots, in this case side 
slots 27 and 29 and top slot 23, are located on protruding member 21 for 
slidably mounting blade holder 31, as shown. At least one cutting slot is 
located on base 2 and in this case two cutting slots, slot 51 and slot 53, 
are located in parallel and on opposite sides of protruding member 21, 
these being located on face surface 3 of base 2, as shown. These cutting 
slots 51 and 53 allow for a blade such as blade 19 to extend below face 
surface 3 and in fact below the entire base 2 s as to enable one to cut 
wallpaper therewith. 
Referring now, simultaneously to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, note that blade holder 
31 includes a locking mechanism consisting of parallel plates 33 and 35 
which are squeezed by screw 37 and screw receiver 39 by rotation of screw 
37. Thus, blade 19 may be received and clamped in a fixed fashion until 
the blade needs to be replaced by tightening screw 37 as shown. Also, as 
illustrated most precisely by FIGS. 2 and 3, blade 19 has a cutting edge 
which extends below the wheels 7, 9, 11 and 13 and below base 2. Also, 
note that blade holder 31 has notches or grooves 43 and 45 which aid in 
stabilizing its position when located within parallel mounting slots 27 
and 29. Screw 41 is used to tighten blade holder 31 in a fixed position 
and graduations and numbers typified by numeral 25 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 
enable the user to more accurately preselect a blade location which would 
identify exactly the distance from a ceiling to the blade when cutter 
device 1 is positioned up against a wall and a ceiling whereby wheels 15 
and 17 touch a ceiling and wheels 7, 9, 11 and 13 touch a connecting wall. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, and particularly to FIG. 4, there is shown an 
alternate preferred wallpaper cutter device 201 for trimming wallpaper at 
a selected level below a ceiling and this includes a base 202 having a 
substantially flat face surface 203 which is of adequate thickness to 
support wheels as shown. Base 202 also has a protruding member 221 which 
extends outwardly from said face surface 203 for receiving a slidable 
blade holder 231. A first plurality of wheels, in this case wheels 211 and 
213, are mounted on said base in planes at about 90.degree. to the face 
surface 3, as shown, along the lower part of device 201. There are also a 
plurality of slider protrusions 255 and and 257 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 
5, which is a side cut view of the upper left corner 259 of device 201, 
protrusion 257 has a Teflon tip 261 inserted therein. Slider protrusion 
tips typified by 261, along with wheels 211 and 213 act in harmony to 
permit smooth rolling of the cutter device along a wall. A second 
plurality of wheels 15 and 17 are mounted on the base 202 in a plane 
parallel to face surface 3 for rolling the cutter device 20 along a 
ceiling. Thus, first plurality of wheels 211 and 213, glider protrusion 
tips, and second plurality of wheels 15 and 17, when working together, 
enable one to simultaneously move the device in a gliding, smooth fashion 
along both a wall and a ceiling parallel to the wall surface and to the 
ceiling surface. A plurality of blade holder mounting slots in this case 
side slots 227 and 229 and top slot 223, are located on protruding member 
221 for slidably mounting two blade holders 231 and 271, as shown. At 
least one cutting slot is located on base 202 and in this case two cutting 
slots, slot 251 and slot 253, are located in parallel and on opposite 
sides of protruding member 221, these being located on face surface 203 of 
base 202, as shown. These cutting slots 251 and 253 allow for two blades 
such a blade 219 and blade 273 to extend below face surface 203 and in 
fact below the entire base 202, so as to enable one to cut simultaneous 
cuts for a center, top, or wainscoting border. 
Not that blade holders 231 and 271 each include a locking mechanism 
consisting of parallel plates 233 and 235 and 275 and 277 respectively, 
which are squeezed by screws 237 and 279 and screw receivers 239 and 281 
by rotation of screws 237 and 279 respectively clamped in fixed fashion 
until the blade needs to be replaced by tightening screw 31 as shown. 
Also, note that blade holders 231 and 271 have notches or grooves 243, 
245, 283 and 285 which aid in stabilizing their positions when located 
within parallel mounting slots 227 and 229, as shown. Screws 241 and 287 
are used to tighten blade holders 231 and 271 in fixed positions and 
graduations and numbers typified by numeral 225 enable the user to more 
accurately preselect the blade locations for the simultaneous double cut 
of the wallpaper. 
The particular blade holder, as well as the blade receiver and clamping 
mechanism, is a matter of choice by the artisan and alternative techniques 
may be employed which are known and which are shown in the prior art cited 
above, without exceeding the scope of the invention. Likewise, the 
particular shape of the protrusion 21 of the device is a matter of design 
and may be rectilinear, cylindrical, or may even include some irregular 
shapes such as indentures for grasping. In this regard, it should be noted 
that the protruding member 21 is of significant proportions and should be 
of significant strength for a user to us that protruding member 21 as a 
handle in addition to a mounting mechanism for the blade holder. Also the 
particular types of dimensions and the exact length or width of the device 
is of no significance. Further, the type of wheels chosen may be the disc 
type wheels shown, or may be mounted roller type wheels, as long as they 
are free rotating. Additionally, the glider protrusion tips which are used 
in place of some of the wall contact wheels may be unistructurally molded 
into the device or may be partially molded into the device with inserted 
tips such as plastic, rubber, teflon or other material, or may be roller 
or ball bearing type attachments, collectively herein referred to as 
slider protrusion tips. 
The particular choice of material for producing the present invention 
device is a matter of choice. However, the device may readily be 
fabricated out of pressed metal o heavy duty molded plastic and the wheels 
may be plastic, metal, or non-marking rubberized material. The blade 
holder may be designed to receive flag single edged trapezoidal type 
professional cutting blades or to receive conventional shaving blades, 
either double edged or single edged and may or may not be designed to 
receive both of these types of blades, without exceeding the scope of the 
present invention.