Patent Publication Number: US-2015068044-A1

Title: Handheld leather edge beveler

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to tools used for working leather. In particular the present invention relates to a leather edge beveler useful for removing the square edges on a piece of leather when making straps or belts or the like. Specifically, the present invention is a handheld leather edge beveler which comprises a handle with an engagement means provided therein and which is useful for attaching a wide array of different edger blades thereto. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     When craftsman are making belts, straps and other articles from leather they typically have to cut the leather with a sharp knife. This tends to create a sharp edge at each of the upper and lower corners of the cut face on the leather strip. If the craftsman is making a belt, for example, these sharp edges or corners will tend to cause discomfort in the end-user and so it has become customary to round off the sharp edges, i.e., to bevel the corners. This is done by cutting a strip of leather off one or both of the upper and lower corners of the leather workpiece. The tool used for this purpose is known as an edge beveler. Some edge bevelers are used on a commercial scale and are at least somewhat mechanized. These commercial-type edge bevelers are typically mounted on a work surface and include rotating heads having cutting surfaces thereon. The tools are capable of rapidly and easily cutting one or both of the upper and lower corners of a workpiece simply by puffing the workpiece through a gap between the rotating heads. 
     Other edge bevelers are handheld devices that are used by individual craftsman and hobbyists. It is this type of edge beveler that is the subject of the present disclosure. There are a wide variety of handheld edge bevelers available on the market. Each edge beveler includes a special type of blade that is fixedly mounted in a handle. Each blade has a specific cutting profile and is of a specific size. In order to distinguish between the different sizes of blade with the same cutting profile, handheld edge bevelers are given a number, e.g. Number 2, Number 3, or Number 4. The craftsman will select his or her tool firstly based on the type of edge he or she wishes to provide on the end product. They will then select the style of the cutting profile on the blade that will produce the desired effect. Some of the specific cutting profiles are Bisonette edgers which include a hole with two rounded cutting profiles. These edgers can round over the sharp corners on the leather workpiece if the tool is pushed or pulled along the leather. Round Bottom edgers have a single rounded cutting profile or blade which again rounds over the corners of the leather, but only if the edge beveler is pushed along the leather. Another type of cutting profile is a Vizzard edge beveler which has a rounded profile with an octagonal shank. This edger gives the corner a different appearance to the previous two edgers. Edge shavers and flat edge bevelers have a blade profile which will cut a flat or angled piece from the corners of the leather workpiece. Once the particular style of edge beveler is selected, the craftsman will decide on the size of bevel he or she wishes to cut at the corners and will then select the appropriately numbered tool for the job. So, for example, the craftsman may select a No. 2 Bisonette edge beveler or a No. 4 Vizzard edge beveler. 
     Each project undertaken by a craftsman will require different styles and sizes of edger beveler to create the desired aesthetic in the end product. A craftsman will therefore have to own a wide variety of differently styled and differently sized edge bevelers to practice his or her craft. 
     This issue has been addressed by some manufacturers by providing a single handle with a plurality of differently sized or configured cutting members. For example, Springfield Leather Company of Springfield, Mo., USA sells an edger set which comprises a handle and a plurality of cutting members. The cutting members each have a shaft which is configured at one end to be received in a chuck-type mechanism mounted at one end of the handle. The cuffing members not currently engaged with the handle are stored in a chamber in the rear of the handle. 
     Leathercraft4u of Yannawa, Bangkok, Thailand sell a “3 in 1 Edge Beveler” which again comprises a handle with a chuck-type mechanism mounted at one end. A plurality of cutting members having different blade sizes are sold with the handle and each cuffing member includes a shaft configured to be selectively engaged in the chuck-type mechanism. 
     While the edge bevelers referenced above work adequately, the chuck-type mechanism is relatively expensive to incorporate in the tool and has a tendency to work loose as the tool is used. This results in the cutting member not being tightly retained with the handle and this may cause the leather end product to have bevels cut therein which are not as aesthetically pleasing as they could have been if the engagement between the cutting member and handle was secure. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for an improved edge beveler which addresses these issues of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     An edge beveling tool for working leather, a kit and a method of changing an edge beveling tool is disclosed. The edge beveling tool includes a handle; a cutting member comprising an arm with first and second ends, cutting surface(s) being provided on the second end; and a spring assembly for removably engaging the cutting member with the handle. The first end of the cutting member is inserted into a slot defined in the handle and is engaged by the spring assembly. The spring assembly is a spring clip which urges the first end of the cutting member into contact with an interior wall of the handle. When it is desired to replace the first cutting member with a second cutting member having a different cutting profile, the first cutting member is grasped and pulled out of the slot. A first end of the second cutting member is then inserted into the slot where the spring clip urges it contact with the interior wall of the handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A sample embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a PRIOR ART edge beveler which includes a cutting member that is fixedly engaged with a handle; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second PRIOR ART edge beveler which includes a cutting member that is releasably engaged in a chuck-type mechanism mounted on a handle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an edge beveler in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary edge beveling kit in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a PRIOR ART edge beveler, generally indicated at  10 . Edge beveler  10  comprises a handle  12  and a cutting member  14 . Cutting member  14  has a first end  14   a  that is engaged with handle  12 . A second end  14   b  of cutting member  14  has a pair of tines  16  that are separated from each other by a gap (not numbered). The inside surfaces of each tine  16  is provided with a cutting surface  16   a  or blade. When edge beveler  10  is pulled along a sharp edge of a piece of leather, the cutting surfaces  16   a  on tines  16  will cut away a section of the leather, thereby beveling the corner thereof. A gap (not numbered) is defined between the cutting surfaces  16   a  of the two tines  16 . This gap determines the size of the bevel that will be cut into an edge of a leather workpiece. Edge beveler  10  shown herein is one in which cutting member  14  is fixedly engaged with handle  14  by some suitable means such as utilizing an adhesive applied between first end  14   a  and the end of handle  12  or by welding cutting member  14  to a metal cap and then adhesively attaching or screwing the metal cap onto the end of handle  12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a second PRIOR ART edge beveler generally indicated at  20 . Beveler  20  includes a handle  22  with a chuck-type mechanism  24  engaged therewith. A plurality of cutting members  26   a,    26   b,    26   c  are provided for selective engagement with chuck-type mechanism  24 . Each of the cutting members  26   a ,  26   b,  and  26   c  includes tines  28   a,    28   b,    28   c  at one end with cutting surfaces  30   a ,  30   b,    30   c  disposed on the interior surfaces of each respective pair of tines. A gap is defined between each pair of cutting surfaces  30   a - 30   c  and this gap is different for each cutting member  26   a - 26   c.  The craftsman will select which of cutting members  26   a,    26   b  or  26   c  to use for a particular edging task and will then engage the selected member with chuck-type mechanism  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5  there is shown an edge beveling kit in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, with the beveler being generally indicated at  50 . Edge beveler  50  comprises a handle  52  and a cutting member  54 . In one aspect of the invention, additional cutting members  56 ,  54  are also provided for engagement with handle  52 . 
     Handle  52  is ergonomically shaped and includes a top wall  52   a,  a bottom wall  52   b,  a first end  52   c  and a second end  52   d.  Handle  52  has a longitudinal axis “Y” extending between first and second ends  52   c,    40   d.  Preferably, handle  52  is fabricated in two sections which are then secured together by suitable means. Preferably, handle  52  is fabricated by injection molding two plastic halves of handle  52  which are then secured together by heat welding for example. Top wall  52   a  is gently curved (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and is configured to sit easily against a craftsman&#39;s palm when he or she is gripping handle  52 . The curvature of top wall  52   a  is such that it is a gentle convex curve. Similarly, bottom wall  52   b  is gently curved and is configured to provide a seat for the craftsman&#39;s fingers and thumb which curl around the curved sides regions of top wall  52   a ) and under bottom wall  52   b.  The curvature of bottom wall  52   b  is a gentle concave curve. Front end  52   c  is generally planar and rear end  52   d  is convexly curved. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the width “W1” of handle  52  proximate first end  52   c  and the portion of handle  52  adjacent first end  52   c  is smaller than the width “W2” of second end  52   d  and the portion of the handle  52  that is adjacent second end  52   d.  Additionally, handle  52  tapers from second end  52   d  toward first end  50   e  and the bottom region of second end  52   d  is spaced a distance “D” lower than the bottom region of first end  52   c.    
     Handle  52  includes a plurality of cut-outs  60  therein to reduce the overall weight of handle  52  and therefore make the tool light and easy to use. Handle  52  further defines a slot  62  therein. Handle  52  defines an opening  64  ( FIG. 4 ) to slot  62  in first end  52   c.  Slot  62  comprises a first chamber  62   a  and a second chamber  62   b  that are in communication with each other. First chamber  62   a  is in communication with opening  64 . 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a spring clip  66  is disposed within slot  62 . A first end of spring clip  66  is disposed within first chamber  62   a  and a second end of spring clip  66  is disposed within second chamber  62   b.  The purpose of spring clip  66  will be described further herein. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, handle  52  preferably is provided with some type of textural element which aids in the craftsman gripping handle  52 . In the figures attached hereto that textural element comprises a plurality of ridges or grooves  51  provided at intervals along the exterior surface of handle  52 . Preferably the ridges or grooves  51  are oriented substantially at right angles to longitudinal axis “Y”. It will be understood that these textural elements may be omitted. 
     Each cutting member  54 ,  56 ,  58  is substantially identical except for the configuration of the tines on the end thereof as well as the shape of the cutting profile of the blades disposed between the tines. Because of the similarity between cutting members  54 - 58 , only cutting member  54  will be described further herein. It should be understood, however, that the description applies equally to the other cutting members  56 ,  58 . Cutting member  54  has an arm with a first end  54   a  and a second end  54   b.  The arm is substantially flattened along its length with the exception of the tines  68 . In the type of cutting member  54  illustrated herein the tines  68  are disposed at an angle a relative to the rest of the arm. Tines  68  are spaced a distance apart from each other and include a blade or a cutting surface  70  on each interior side edge of each tine  68 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , first end  54   a  of cutting member  54  has a width “W3” and a height “H” which is substantially complementary to that of opening  64  in handle  52 . First end  54   a  is configured to be received through opening  64  and into slot  62 . In particular, first end  54   a  slides into first chamber  62   a  of slot  62  and is engaged by spring clip  66 . Spring clip  66  urges first end  54   a  into abutting contact with the interior surface of handle  52  which defines slot  62  and thereby keeps first end  54   a  interlockingly engaged with handle  52 . 
     The arm of cutting member  54  includes a pair of shoulders  54   c  which are disposed adjacent first end  52   c  of handle  52  when cutting member  54  is engaged therewith. The width “W4” of the arm in the region of shoulders  54   c  is greater than the width “W3” and is therefore such that the arm is prevented from sliding further inwardly through opening  64  in handle  52 . Shoulders  54   c  thus limit the longitudinal travel of cutting member  54 . The longitudinal travel of cutting member  54  is further arrested between the edge  54   d  of cutting member  54  abuts an end wall  62   c  in slot  62 . The arm of cutting member  54  tapers from the width “W4” toward tines  68 . 
     First end  54   a  of arm of cutting member  54  defines a hole  72  therein. Hole  72  is useful for hanging cutting member  54  on a hook on a storage rack or the like when cutting member  54  is disengaged from handle  52 . It will be understood that instead of cutting members  54 ,  56 ,  58  being individually stored separately from handle  52 , handle  52  may be configured to include a chamber (not shown) within which the cutting members  54 - 58  may be stored when not in use. Chamber may be such that a covering locks the cutting members  54 - 58  therein when not in use. Edge beveler  50  is used in the following manner. Referring to  FIG. 3 , cutting member  54  is initially not engaged with handle  52  and is shown in phantom in this figure. When the craftsman wishes to use cutting member  54 , the first end  54   a  is inserted through opening  64  in first end  52   c  of handle  52  and pushed inwardly toward second end  52   d.  As first end  54   a  enters slot  62  it slides along the convexly curved surface of spring clip  66  depressing the same downwardly in a direction toward bottom wall  52   b  of handle  52 . First end  54   a  is pushed inwardly until such longitudinal movement is arrested by shoulders  54   c  and end wall  62   c.  Spring clip  66  springs back somewhat toward its original position, thereby pushing first end upwardly in a direction toward the upper interior wall illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Spring clip thus traps first end  54   a  of cutting member  54  within slot  62  by way of spring tension. Edge beveler  50  may then be used to bevel the edge of a leather workpiece in a manner known in the art. 
     When the craftsman desires to use another one of the cutting members  56 ,  58  he or she will simply grasp the second end  54   b  and pull cutting member  54  out of slot  62  in the opposite direction to the way it was inserted into slot  62 . The other one of the cutting members  56 ,  58  is then inserted through opening  64  and into slot  62  in the same manner as described with reference to cutting member  54 . When the other cutting member  56 ,  58  is locked into handle by spring clip  66  the edge beveler is ready for use. 
     It will therefore be seen that edge beveler is converted from one size and style of beveler to another in a very rapid and easy manner. Additionally, the fabrication of the device is relatively inexpensive when compared with previously known edge bevelers that include inter-changeable cutting members. Still further, edge beveler  50  tends not to suffer from becoming looser over time as is the case with the chuck-type mechanism bevelers (such as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is disclosed a method of changing an edge beveler  50  comprising the steps of:
         inserting a first end  54   a  of a first cutting member  54  through an opening  64  and into a slot  62  defined in a first end  52   c  of a handle  52  of an edge beveling tool  50 ;   pushing first cutting member  54  toward first end  52   c  of handle  52 ;   sliding first end  54   a  of first cutting member  54  through slot  62  and toward a second end  52   d  of handle  52 ;   depressing a spring clip  66  with first end  54   a  of first cutting member  54 ; and   urging, with spring clip  66 , first end  54   a  of first cutting member  54  into engagement with an interior surface  52   e  of handle  52  which defines slot  62 .       

     The method further comprising the steps of:
         replacing first cutting member  54  with a second cutting member  56 , where second cutting member  56  has a different cutting profile (the cutting surfaces between the tines thereof and possibly the spacing between the tines as well) to that of first cutting member  54 .       

     The method wherein the step of replacing first cutting member  54  with second cutting member  56  includes the steps of:
         pulling a second end  54   b  of first cutting member  54  in a direction away from first end  52   c  of handle  52 ;   sliding first end  54   a  of first cutting member  54  through slot  62  in a direction toward first end  52   c  of handle  52 ;   depressing spring clip  66  as first end  54   a  of first cutting member  54  slides through slot  62 ;   pulling second end  54   b  of first cutting member  54  until first end  54   a  thereof exits slot  62  through opening  64  in first end  52   c  of handle  52 .       

     The method further comprises the steps of:
         inserting a first end  56   a  of second cutting member  56  through opening  64  and into slot  62  defined in first end  52   c  of handle  52  of edge beveling tool  50 ;   pushing second cutting member  56  toward first end  52   c  of handle  52 ;   sliding first end  56   a  of second cutting member  56  through slot  62  and toward second end  52   d  of handle  52 ;   depressing spring clip  66  with first end  56   a  of second cutting member  56 ; and   urging, with spring clip  66 , first end  56   a  of second cutting member  56  into engagement with interior surface  52   e  of handle  52  which defines slot  62 .       

     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the preferred embodiment of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.