Abstract:
A thread cutting apparatus that is held between the thumb and forefinger used to cut and remove stitched seams in fabric and the like combining the feature of traditional tweezers and scissors, so that only one tool is needed for the removal process of stitches.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to instruments, more specifically to an instrument for the cutting and removing of stitches from a lockstitch seam made by a sewing machine. In the process of joining various types of fabrics occasionally, there is a need to remove or modify the stitched seam.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     Removing or modifying a stiched seam traditionally this required the use of at least two instruments. One instrument was used to cut the thread or stitch at two points, both extremities of the seam that was to be removed; typically, a scissor-like device was used. Once the length of the seam, approximately ½″ comprising of 6 or 7 stitches, was severed a second instrument, usually a tweezers-like device or forceps was used to grasp one end of the thread and remove it from the joined fabric by pulling it along the length of the stitch.  
         [0005]     The U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,698 issued to Mindheim (1950) describesa a tweezers configuration with cutting blades positioned at right angles to the arms of the tweezers. The thread is grasped in points, as operator continues to squeeze, the blades come together and cut thread. Due to the position of the blades being above the grasping edge the tweezers must be inserted deep into the fabric.  
         [0006]     The U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,649 to Miller et al. (1961) describes a pair of tweezers with a single inclined plate with knife edge mounted at right angles on inside surface of lower arm. When tweezers is squeezed thread plate indexes into slot cut into inside surface of upper arm. Thread on incline will be cut as place engages slot.  
         [0007]     The U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,493 to Cummings (1966) depicts a combination of tweezers and scissors. The device can be rotated by the fingers to position either the scissors or gripping points to cut and pluck the stitches.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,979 to Tuthill et al. (1977) demonstrates a disposable suture cutter formed of tweezers that are held between the fingers and thumb. The tweezers have opposed free ends with one of the free ends shaped so that it can be inserted under a suture with a suture retaining groove for holding the suture. A cutting blade is attached to the other free end of the tweezers. The cutting blade is attached to the other free end of the tweezers. The cutting blade end of the tweezers allows for movement traversely and downwardly to cut the suture being held by the retaining groove.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,252 to Jones (1991) depicts a surgical forceps device with inward facing points at the end of spaced apart arms that are specifically designed to hold the sides of a surgical incision together during suturing. The handle of the forceps provides for a knife blade that is partially exposed by a notch in the handle.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,997 to Salvi (1991) demonstrates a pair of tweezers enables cutting by pointing inward two sharp metallic ends, perpendicular to the two legs surfaces of the tweezers. It is also equipped with a removable actuating lever made of one bent piece of metal.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. D493,255 to Lamagna (2004) illustrates a pair of tweezers that do have a sharpened blade for cutting threads.  
         [0012]     U.S. Patent Publication 2005/02622704 (2005) depicts a seam ripper that cuts threads via a radial motion.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention discloses an improved thread cutting apparatus useful in the removal of stitched connections, comprised of a pair of spaced apart arms joined at one end to form a pair of tweezers or forceps, which can be held between the thumb and forefinger. When pressure is applied by the clamping action of the thumb and forefinger, the distal ends of the spaced apart arms will make contact, so as to be able to grasp items, such as thread or sutures.  
         [0014]     The material used for the device has sufficient resiliency to allow for resistance to deformation caused by the squeezing action of the thumb and forefinger and will return to its original position after manipulation.  
         [0015]     The two arms are joined near their proximal ends and have a hole penetrating through the assembly of sufficient diameter to enable a cord, wire or lanyard to pass through for the purpose of hanging the implement around the neck or to secure to one&#39;s wrist.  
         [0016]     The distal ends of the spaced apart arms taper and terminate into sharp points and sections of the arms nearest the distal ends are beveled on each side to form knife-like edges, but as few as one knife-like edge is contemplated. However, by having two knife-like edges or blades, one on each arm, on the same side of the tweezers assembly one unit can be rotated and used by right or left-handed users.  
         [0017]     Because the device may be used by either right handed or left-handed persons it may have selective marked so that the user can easily properly orient the device to perform the stitch removal, such as different colored lines on the arms visible when the device is in the proper orientation for the dexterity of the user.  
         [0018]     Removing of a stitched seam requires three steps. The first is to insert or thrust the pointed edge of the device between the stitch and the fabric that will cause the thread to be in contact with the blade or knife-like edge of tweezers. As the pointed tip drives further between the stitches it acts as a wedge stretching the thread and eventually cutting it along the interface between it and the blade or sharp knife-like edge.  
         [0019]     The second step is to repeat the previous action on a different point on the stitched seam, thus forming the desired length of stitch to be removed. Once the stitch is severed in these two places, the third step requires grasping either loose thread end with the distal point of the tweezers and removing the thread.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.  
       [0020]     Taking the following specifications in conjunction with the accompanying drawings will cause the invention to be better understood regarding these and other features and advantages. The specifications reference the annexed drawings wherein:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the thread cutting apparatus; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the thread cutting apparatus; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the thread cutting apparatus showing the manner of cutting and removing a stitched seam.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0000]     1. Overview  
         [0024]     The preferred embodiment or “Tweezor” combines the functionality of these two separate tools conveniently into one instrument, so that the cutting action and the grasping and pulling action can be performed by a single instrument, which alleviates the need for the operator to switch tools and so makes the stitch removal process more efficient.  
         [0025]     Moreover, the preferred embodiment also provides for a means of hanging the device around one&#39;s neck, as is customary for long arm quilters. More succinctly, the preferred embodiment comprises a traditional style pair of tweezers with sharpened side edges, which can either pluck or cut the seam by varying the orientation and movement of the instrument.  
         [0026]     The device is particularity useful for commercial long arm quilters who need to remove yards of stitching as quickly as possible. In addition, because the stitches are held in bating and are cushioned rather that lie on flat fabric as in a garment seam this cushion allows the point of the device to be inserted without difficulty.  
         [0027]     Additionally, it is foreseeable that this invention can be utilized for cutting and removing a variety of thread-like connections, such as various machine stitches, hand stitches, woven material, fine wire, fishing line or surgical sutures.  
         [0028]     While describing the invention and its embodiments, various terms will be used for the sake of clarity. These terms are intended to not only include the recited embodiments, but also all equivalents that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same manner to achieve the same result.  
         [0000]     2. Description of the Drawings  
         [0029]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses an improved tweezers or thread cutting apparatus.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 1  and indicted generally by the reference number  100  is comprised of a pair of spaced apart arms  110  and  120  joined at the assembly&#39;s end  200  to form a pair of tweezers or forceps, which can be held between the thumb and forefinger. The spaced apart arms  110  and  120  are generally rectangular in cross section.  
         [0031]     The assembly is preferably made of a metallic material that has sufficient resiliency to allow for resistance to deformation caused by the squeezing action of the thumb and forefinger, but then again, composite or plastic materials may also be contemplated, so long as this material can resist deformation and return to its original position after manipulation. This material should be suitable to be sharpened to a knife-edge or to allow for the insertion of a sharp blade edge such as a razor blade.  
         [0032]     In the preferred embodiment, the two arms  110  and  120  are joined near their end  200  by fusion welding with a hole  190  penetrating through the thread cutting apparatus  100  near the assembly&#39;s end  200  of sufficient diameter to enable a cord, wire or lanyard to pass through for the purpose of hanging the implement around the neck or to secure to one&#39;s wrist.  
         [0033]     The distal ends of spaced apart arms  110  and  120  taper and terminate into sharp points  130  and  140 . The spaced apart arms  110  and  120  are beveled on each side to form knife-like edges  150  and  160  that extend from the sharp points  130  and  140  towards the assembly&#39;s end  200 .  
         [0034]     In the preferred embodiment, knife-like edges  150  and  160  occur only on one side of the thread cutting apparatus  100  and then for a length less than the majority of each of the arms  110  and  120 .  
         [0035]     In other embodiments, it has been contemplated to have as few as one knife-like edge  150 , but by having knife-like edges  150  and  160 , one on each arm  110  and  120  on the same side of the thread cutting apparatus  100  allows for one unit to be rotated and used by right or left-handed users.  
         [0036]     It is also contemplated that by sharpening only one side of the device helps protect the user from inadvertent injury and also adds to the strength of the thread cutting apparatus  100  by maximizing the amount of material is on each spaced apart arms  110  and  120 .  
         [0037]     The preferred embodiment contemplates the knife-like edges having a length of 0.5 inches running from point of the arms.  
         [0038]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  depicts the thread cutting apparatus in a top plan view and illustrates the use of orientation guides  170  and  180 . Because the device may be used by either right handed or left-handed persons it is important for the user to quickly discern whether or not he has the device properly orientated to perform the stitch removal. In one embodiment, the orientation guide  170  is a thin blue line that would be visible when the device is in the proper orientation for a left-handed person while the other orientation guide  180  is a thin red line that would be visible when the device is orientated for proper right-handed use. This is for illustrative purposes and it is obvious that different colors may be used or different symbols or letters to notify the user of the proper orientation of the device.  
         [0039]     Now referring to  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 a  thread cutting apparatus  100  in an isometric view showing the manner of cutting and removing a stitched seam.  
         [0040]     In one embodiment where the removal of machine-sewn stitches is desired the optimum width of each arm  110  and  120  at the mid point of the blade or knife-like edge  150  and  160  should be about 1/12″ which corresponds to the typical spacing between machine sewn stitch. The sharp points  130  and  140  should be tapered to a point and be thin enough to be easily inserted under a stitch without damaging the underlying material or fabric. Once a sharp point  130  or  140  is further inserted under a stitch the corresponding knife-like edge either  150  or  160  will severe at least one side of the stitch by a wedge-like action.  
         [0041]     The manner of using the device is similar to that of a traditional tweezers, which are held between the forefinger and thumb. When the device is held in the right hand, the arm  120  nearest the stitches (the lower arm) will have the knife-like edge  160  on the left side and the orientation guide  180  possible a thin red line on the flat surface of the arm  120  will be visible to the operator. The pointed end of the arm or sharp point  140  is inserted under single stitch of the line of stitching to be removed, taking care not to pierce the fabric. As the sharp point  140  is pushed further under the stitch loop, the two ends of the thread will eventually be stretched over the taper of the arm and the knife-like edge  160  will cut the thread to the left. The thread cutting apparatus is then withdrawn and the operation is repeated at a point 3 to 5 stitches away from the severed thread and the process repeated. Either sharp point  130  or  140  is then inserted under the stitch midway along the cut seam which is pinched or grasped with both pointed ends  130  and  140  of the Tweezor and plucked to release the thread from the lockstitches formed with the bottom thread.  
         [0042]     When the device is held in the left hand, the arm  130  nearest the stitches (the lower arm) will have the knife-like edge  150  on the right side and orientation guide  170  possibly a thin blue line on the flat surface of the arm  110  will be visible to the operator. All further operations remain the same.  
         [0043]     The term “thread” should not be limited to threads used to join pieces of cloth. The term “thread” can also refer to any material with thread like properties, such as a suture, which is used to join materials (e.g. skin in surgical applications).  
         [0044]     The invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment. One skilled in the art will recognize that it would be possible to construct the elements of the present invention from a variety of means and to modify the placement of the components in a variety of ways.  
         [0045]     While the embodiments of the invention have been described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.