Patent Publication Number: US-2016230238-A1

Title: Leather Lace Beveling Apparatus and Method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Statements Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 62/064,572 filed Oct. 16, 2014 
    
    
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     NA 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field leather lace making apparatuses and methods. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A purpose of the invention is to bevel the edges of lace leather at an angle. Beveling the edges of lace leather is typically done by saddle shops and leather braiders. 
     There are numerous advantages between the lace beveler apparatus of the invention and the prior art. The lace beveler apparatus of the invention will bevel different widths of lace without having to make adjustments. Applicant is not aware of any prior art machine that can bevel different widths without any adjustments. The lace beveler apparatus of the invention can bevel both sides of the lace at one time. Some machines can only do one side at a time. 
     The lace beveler apparatus of the invention will bevel a single length of lace that is comprised of different widths of leather throughout its entire length. Some machines are only designed to bevel the same width of leather. 
     With the lace beveler apparatus of the invention the width or the thickness of leather is generally not a factor in its performance 
     Some prior art bevelers require the operator to hold the lace with one hand and pull it thru the machine with the other. With the lace beveler apparatus of the invention, the operator can pull the lace through the apparatus hand over hand to bevel the edges. The ability to pull the lace hand over hand quickens the process, allowing the lace to be beveled as quickly as the operator can pull the leather thru the machine. 
     The blades used in the lace beveler apparatus of the invention can generally be used longer. The entire blade can be used in the lace beveler apparatus of the invention since the blade can be adjusted. 
     Most beveling machines require some expertise to use while the lace beveler apparatus of the invention can generally be used by any laborer. 
     Known prior art includes the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,559,291; 2,781,532; 2,978,808; 3,080,652; 3,802,076; 4,218,901; 4,226,098; 5,027,621; 7,225,647; 8,033,146; 8,485,004 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a leather lace beveler apparatus for cutting bevels on opposed sides of a strip of leather lace that is pulled through the leather lace beveler apparatus. It includes a main frame and a first knife housing secured to the main frame and has a knife blade extending through a slot in the main frame and has a first fence to hold a leather strip in line and in engagement against the first knife blade to cut a bevel on one side of a strip of leather lace. A second knife housing is secured to the main frame and has a knife blade extending through a slot in the main frame and has a second fence to hold a leather strip in line and in engagement with the second knife blade to cut a bevel on the other side of a strip of leather lace when a leather lace is pulled through the leather lace beveler apparatus. 
     The leather lace leveler apparatus includes angle slots for the knife blades. The leather lace leveler apparatus includes knife housings for the knife blades. The knife blades are reversible to provide new cutting edges. 
     The leather lace leveler apparatus includes knife housings mounted in the slots for the knife blades that are selectively slidably positioned in the knife housings and secured in place. The fences include presser plates that press against the lace to hold the lace in line with the knife blades. The fences include springs that cause the presser plates to press against the lace to hold the lace in line with the knife blades. The fences include springs with compression adjusting shafts that cause the presser plates to press against the lace to hold the lace in line with the knife blades. The leather lace leveler apparatus includes adjusting bolts to provide lateral adjustment to the two fences. The leather lace leveler apparatus includes locks on adjusting bolts to provide lateral adjustment to the two fences. 
     The leather lace leveler apparatus includes a third fence lace to hold the lace in line with the knife blades. The leather lace leveler apparatus includes a stand shaft for mounting the apparatus on a support. 
     The method for cutting bevels on opposed sides of a strip of leather lace that is pulled through the leather lace beveler apparatus includes the following steps. A strip of leather lace is engaged with a first knife housing having a knife blade and the leather strip is held in line and in engagement against the first knife blade with a first fence to cut a bevel on one side of a strip of leather lace. The strip of leather lace is engaged with a second knife housing having a knife blade and the leather strip is held in line and in engagement against the second knife blade with a second fence to cut a bevel on the other side of a strip of leather lace. The strip of leather lace is pulled past the knife blades to cut the bevels on opposed sides of the leather lace. 
     The fences are laterally adjusted to cut the bevels on the opposed sides of the strip of leather lace. The pressure of the fences is adjusted to cut the bevels on the opposed sides of the strip of leather lace. The leather strip is held in line and in engagement against the knife blades with a third fence to cut a bevel on the other side of a strip of leather lace 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of the apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention with a piece of leather lace in position for beveling. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention with a piece of leather lace in position being beveled. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention with a piece of leather lace in position nearing completion of being beveled. 
         FIG. 5  shows a representative strip of leather lace that has been beveled by the apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a knife holder of the apparatus of the invention for beveling a piece of leather lace. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fence holder for the apparatus of the invention for holding a piece of leather lace in position to be beveled. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bottom of apparatus of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the lace beveler apparatus  10  is shown. The apparatus includes a main frame  11  having straight sides  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15  with rounded corners and an upper surface  16 . The main frame is rectangular and approximately 4×7 inches in the preferred embodiment. It may be made of 10 gauge stainless steel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a 1×4 inch stainless steel tubular or solid stand-shaft  18  is secured to the lower surface  17  between two angled slots  19  and  20  that are cut into the main frame. The angled slots are at an angle of about 30 degrees from the sides  12  and  14  of the main frame  11 . The end  21  of the shaft is welded approximately 2½ inches from one end  15  and approximately 1⅞″ from the side  12  for mounting or clamping the shaft in a standard vise, not shown, or other support. A one inch stainless steel washer  22  is secured to the shaft 2½ inches from the lower surface  17  of the main frame  11 . 
     The two angled slots  19  and  20  are approximately 1 3/6×¼′ wide and are cut into the main frame  11  for mounting the knife housings  23  and  24 . The knife housings  23  and  24  are secured in the slots at an angle of about 45 degrees as shown by suitable connections such as by welding. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the knife housings  23  and  24  are generally rectangular with sides  27 ,  28 ,  30  and  31  and ends  29  and  32  except for the upper ends  25  and  26  which are angled. The knife housings  23  and  24  are approximately 1⅛×3⅞ inches in size with half-moon shaped slots  33  and  34  formed in the housings that are approximately ⅝″ in diameter to expose the cutting edge of a replaceable box knife blade. The knife housings have shims  35 ,  36 ,  37  and  38  to position a box knife blade that can be selectively slidably positioned in the housing and replaced when the cutting edge dulls. The center of each half-moon slot is approximately 1¼ inch from the upper end and allows the exposed cutting blade surface of the box knife blade to bevel the lace. The top edges  25  and  26  of the housings are angled approximately 45 degrees to coincide with the end of a box knife blade angle. The bottom shims  36  and  38  run from the bottom of the housing up two inches and the top shims  35  and  36  run from the beveled edges  25  an  26  down approximately 1¾ inches. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , steel plates  39  and  40  are approximately 1×¾ inch and are welded to the shims just below the half-moon circles. Holes are formed in the center of the plate with ¼ inch nuts  41  and  42  welded over the holes. The ¼ inch nuts secure the ¼ inch wing bolts  43  and  44  with wing handles  45  and  46  that can be screwed in to securely hold a box knife blade in each of the knife housings  23  and  24 . The wings  45  and  46  may also be round knobs. The standard box knife blade is typically angled at both ends so that either end may be slidably secured in the housing with the wing bolt. The sharp cutting edge of the knife blade can be varied by loosening the wing bolts  43  and  44  and sliding the knife blade in the house to a new cutting edge as the blade edge dulls from use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7  there are two identical stainless steel fences that are F-shaped and approximately 2 inches long×⅞ inch wide with a ¼ inch hole in the centers of the horizontal legs of the fences. The fences  50  and  51  have two 90 degree brackets  52 ,  52 ,  54  and  55  with ¼ inch holes  58  and  59  in the center of each bracket. The brackets  52 ,  52 ,  54  and  55  are affixed to the vertical flat members  56  and  57 . The brackets  52 ,  52 ,  54  and  55  are attached to the fence leg approximately ⅝″ apart. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first and second fences  50  and  51  each have ¼×3 inch threaded shafts  60  and  61  that are bent at 90 degrees and are about 2⅛ inches from the threaded end  62 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaft  60  is mounted thru the openings  58  and  59  in the two 90 degree brackets. A ¼ by 1 inch coil spring  63  slides over each shaft. Each shaft then screws into the nut  64  on the upper surface  65  of the presser foot  66  causing it to be spring-loaded so the lower flat surface  66  of the press plate presses against the top surface of the main frame. 
     Two stainless steel bolts  70  and  71  that are ¼×2 inches long with plastic adjusting knobs  71  secured on each end are provided to allow lateral adjustment of the two fences. The knobs  71  may be round or rectangular. Each plastic knob allows for adjusting the lateral position of the fences to properly position them relative to the knives. 
     Two ¼ inch nut connectors  73  and  74  are mounted on posts or stands  75  and  76  which are connected to the top surface of the main frame and receive the bolts  70  and  71 . The posts or stands  75  and  76  are secured extending upwardly from the top surface  16  of the main frame  11  by suitable connections such as welding. Each assembly is used to attach the first and second fences to the main frame. Nuts  80  and  81  are secured to the backs of the fences  56  and  57  to receive the threaded ends of the bolts  70  and  71 . Locking taps  82 ,  83 ,  84  and  85  secure the bolts  70  and  71  from rotation on the posts or stands  75  and  76 . 
     The plastic knobs  72  and  74  rotate the ¼ inch threaded bolts to adjust the distance of the fences from the knives. The apparatus may be inserted into a vise or may be attached to a support for positioning the apparatus for use. Nuts  80  and  81  are secured to the backs of the fences  56  and  57  to receive the threaded ends of the bolts  70  and  71   
     The third fixed fence  90  is a tubular member that has a 90 degree bend  91  that extends downwardly where it is secured to the main frame. The lower flat surface  92  is parallel to the surface  16 . 
     The lace beveler apparatus has the first and second fences along with a spring-loaded pressure foot on each fence pressing against the flat main frame to hold the leather lace that is being beveled in place. The first fence holds the lace in line with the first blade. The second fence hold the leather lace in line with the second blade. The third fence guides the lace precisely into the knives. The blade closest to the operator is the second blade. The lace being beveled is laid between the first and second fences underneath each pressure foot and in contact with the cutting blades. Beveling will begin at this position so you need enough lace extending past the second fixed fence to grasp and pull. Should you wish to start beveling near the beginning of the lace you can use pliers to pull the lace through at the beginning. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , you first slide the lace  99  behind the third fence. You then slide the lace  99  under the presser foot of the first fence and in contact with the first cutting blade. You then slide the lace  99  under the second presser foot of the second fence and in contact with the second cutting blade. With the lace engaging the blades and fences you can pull the lace thru the apparatus to bevel the edges of the leather lace on each side. The spring-loaded presser feet are positioned to hold the lace against the top surface of the flat main frame while the three fences guide it into the knives for precision cutting each edge. The fences can be adjusted for fine tuning the cut. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the scrap material  94  and  95  from each side of the leather lace is removed at each side of each blade to leave the finished product  96  with finished beveled edges  97  and  98 . The finished product is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The above-listed sections and included information are not exhaustive and are only exemplary or the invention. The particular sections and included information in a particular embodiment may depend upon the particular implementation and the included devices and resources. Although a system and method according to the present invention have been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     The above-listed sections and included information are not exhaustive and are only exemplary or the invention. The particular sections and included information in a particular embodiment may depend upon the particular implementation and the included devices and resources. Although a system and method according to the present invention have been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.