U.S. patent application number 10/844849 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for reversible rotatable cutting and ironing board combination.
Invention is credited to Yamin, Patricia Jane.
Application Number | 20050252428 10/844849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35308197 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050252428 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamin, Patricia Jane |
November 17, 2005 |
Reversible rotatable cutting and ironing board combination
Abstract
A reversible combination cutting and ironing board, and more
particularly, pertains to a turntable structure incorporating a
disk-shaped plate having a cutting surface on one side thereof, and
a second disk-shaped plate forming an ironing board on the opposite
side, which are rotatable about a transverse center axis relative
to each other.
Inventors: |
Yamin, Patricia Jane;
(Brooklyn, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCULLY SCOTT MURPHY & PRESSER, PC
400 GARDEN CITY PLAZA
SUITE 300
GARDEN CITY
NY
11530
US
|
Family ID: |
35308197 |
Appl. No.: |
10/844849 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06H 7/00 20130101; B26D
7/20 20130101; D06F 81/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/139 |
International
Class: |
A47B 011/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A combination rotatable cutting and ironing board turntable
arrangement, comprising: a first structure including a first plate
member having a planar cutting surface on one side thereof; a
second structure including a second plate member in parallel spaced
relationship with said first plate member with the opposite surface
of said first plate member; an ironing cover being mounted on a
planar surface of said second plate member facing in a direction
opposite to said planar cutting surface; and a connection device
interposed between said first and second structures facilitating
rotational movement between said planar cutting surface and said
second plate member mounting said ironing board cover about a
common transverse central axis.
2. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
connection device interposed between said first and second
structures comprises a stock race.
3. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
stock race comprises a ring-shaped ball bearing assembly.
4. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
stock race interconnects facing surfaces of said first and second
plate members on opposite sides of, respectively, said cutting
surface and ironing cover-mounting surfaces.
5. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein a spacer
ring extends about said stock race so as to form a support for said
second plate member proximate the radially peripheral region
thereof, said spacer ring being adhesively fastened to a surface of
first plate member opposite said cutting surface.
6. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first and second structures are essentially constituted of rigid
plastic materials.
7. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at
least second plate member of said second structure is constituted
of an acrylic.
8. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
stock race comprises a plastic material.
9. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
ironing board cover includes a peripherally extending elastic band
for detachably mounting said ironing board cover on the outer
planar surface of said second plate member.
10. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
arrangement is invertible, whereby said cutting surface faces
upwardly in an operation position and conversely said surface
mounting said ironing board cover faces upwardly in an operative
position upon inversion of said turntable.
11. A turntable arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first and second plate members are circular disks.
Description
BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a reversible combination
cutting and ironing board, and more particularly, pertains to a
turntable structure incorporating a disk-shaped plate having a
cutting surface on one side thereof, and a second disk-shaped plate
forming an ironing board on the opposite side, which are rotatable
about a transverse center axis relative to each other.
[0003] In the field of quilting wherein numerous and the most
diverse types of designs and patterns are employed for the purpose
of forming quilts of the most decorative natures, pieces of fabric
are cut into appropriate sections or squares by employing templates
which are maintained in position on the fabric, the latter of which
is positioned on a mat or planar cutting surface. Heretofore, in
order to provide the appropriate sections of fabric being cut with
a high degree of accuracy, through the intermediary of templates
and the application of cutting tools while positioned on a mat, it
has been the norm to turn the template and the material on the
supporting mat or surface which is not only inconvenient fort he
cutting person, but frequently causes some slippage of the
templates and fabric relative to each other so as to render the
entire procedure rather inaccurate and difficult to implement.
[0004] In order to improve upon the foregoing fabric cutting
procedure, in recent years the present inventor devised a unique
structure which combines the accuracy of using templates in the
cutting of fabric pieces for quilting with the convenience of
rotary cutting on a rotatable turntable possessing a planar
self-healing cutting surface, thereby enhancing accuracy in cutting
an comfort to user in being able to avoid the repositioning of the
fabric and template during cutting. In particular, the rotating
turntable was supported on a rotatable ball-bearing structure
which, in turn, was adapted to be positioned on a suitable support
surface, and thereby facilitating turning of the cutting surface of
the rotating turntable through any angle of rotation about a
central axis to render easier the cutting of the fabric without any
slippage or misdirected cuts inasmuch as the necessity of having to
shift or move the fabric and template relative to its supporting
mat or cutting surface was essentially eliminated. This particular
rotating turntable having the plate possessing the cutting surface
mounted on a rotational ball-bearing base have been copyrighted by
the present inventor under the name "Brooklyn Revolver" by Come
Quilt With Me Inc., and is an extremely useful tool in enabling an
easy and accurate cutting all sides of fabric below the template,
while being of a light weight and portable construction.
[0005] Although the foregoing revolving turntable having the planar
cutting surface clearly and dramatically improved upon the usually
rectangular and non-rotatable cutting boards or mats employed for
quilting or similar trimming and fabric cutting operations,
subsequent to cutting the individual pieces of fabric, these
generally required ironing on a separate ironing surface prior to
further processing into quilts or other kinds of fabric
arrangements.
[0006] In order to solve the problem of having separate fabric
cutting surfaces and ironing or pressing stations utilized in
forming the fabric material pieces, there have been developed
portable cutting and ironing or pressing units which combine both
units into a single interconnected or integrated physical
structure.
[0007] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0008] In particular, reference is made to Ziegler, U.S. Design
Pat. No. 333,540, which discloses a combination cutting and ironing
board consisting of a rectangular, laminated plate structure of
which one external side is a rigid cutting surface adapted for
cutting fabrics through the intermediary of a template and a rotary
or linear cutter, and wherein the other opposite external side of
the laminated structure has a surface which includes an ironing
board-type cover of material and whereby, upon reversing the
position of the board subsequent to cutting the fabric material,
the material may then be ironed on the opposite surface. The entire
structure is portable and may be carried by means of a handle which
is attached to one edge of the board.
[0009] Pursuant to another structure, there is described a foldable
device called "The FoldAway", produced by the Omnigrid Company of
Spartanburg, S.C., in which a rectangular board has a grided mat
adapted for cutting fabrics, such as by means of a rotary cutter
and a template, and wherein etched along a fold line is a second
surface which can be employed as an ironing board or pressing
surface. The entire structure can be folded together and includes a
handle carrying the arrangement in a compact manner. Also known are
so-called "Rotary Cutting Mats" which are laminated plates
manufactured by June Tailor of Richfield, Wis. wherein a first
rectangular plate having a carrying handle at one end thereof has a
cutting surface on one side, and is laminated to a plate with an
ironing or pressing surface on the opposite side thereof. This
structure is designated as a so-called rotary cutting mat due to
its being reversible between one side and the other for selectively
either cutting or pressing utilizations implemented on fabric
pieces.
[0010] Although the foregoing structures each incorporate surfaces
for cutting and further surfaces for pressing or ironing, these
structures are essentially rectangular boards which are not adapted
to provide for the advantages of the rotating turntable as designed
by the present inventor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, in order to further improve upon the technology
in a novel and unique manner, pursuant to the present invention
there is provided a reversible combined cutting and ironing board
in the nature of a turntable, in which a disk-shaped plate having a
cutting surface is supported for relative rotation on a
ball-bearing arrangement, and wherein the opposite or distal side
of the ball bearing arrangement provides for a spacer mounting a
second disk-shaped plate of essentially the same size as the
cutting plate is fastened to the ball bearing arrangement and is
rotatable relative to the cutting plate about a central transverse
axis. An ironing board cover may be mounted on the exterior surface
of the second plate so as to provide for an ironing surface on the
inverted side of the rotatable turntable structure opposite to the
orientation of the cutting surface, but extending in parallel
therewith.
[0012] In particular, the ironing board surface or cover on the
second plate may be located on a horizontal support surface while
the upwardly facing surface of the cutting plate is employed in a
rotatable manner for cutting fabric sections by means of a template
and a suitable cutting tool, such as a rotary cutter as is well
known in the art, and as is disclosed in the structure of the
present inventor's "Brooklyn Revolver" turntable as discussed
hereinbefore.
[0013] Thereafter, it is a relatively simple matter for a user to
invert the entire assembly so that the cutting plate now forms the
bottom surface which rests on a support surface, and the ironing
board surface is oriented upwardly so as to enable the previously
cut fabric sections or pieces to be ironed, while the ironing board
is rotatable relative to the cutting plate which is supported
therebeneath.
[0014] In order to implement the foregoing, the entire structure is
constituted of relatively inexpensive and dependable components
imbued with lengthy service lives, most of which are essentially of
plastic material construction, and wherein the disk-shaped elements
which are rotatable relative to each other are of essentially light
weight and sturdy construction so as to afford all of the
advantages of the above described "Brooklyn Revolver" structure as
designed and commercialized by the present inventor, while
incorporating the advantage pursuant to the present invention of
providing a further plate structure which is rotatable with regard
to the cutting plate and is adapted to mount an ironing board cover
to thereby enable the ironing of cut fabric pieces without
difficulty upon the entire structure simply being inverted. To that
effect, the entire structure is provided primarily by components
consisting of a first plate arrangement having a planar cutting
surface and which is essentially a turntable or disk-shape, and
including a parallel spaced disk-shaped second plate which is
connected to the first plate by means of a ball-bearing assembly to
enable relative rotation between the two plate structures, and
wherein the second plate is adapted to mount an ironing board cover
so as to form an ironing surface on the opposite side of structure
from that of the cutting plate surface.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a novel reversible combined cutting and ironing
board.
[0016] Another more specific object of the present invention is to
provide for a novel independently rotatable cutting board and
ironing board structure, wherein a pair of parallel spaced
rotatable disk-shaped plate members has one of the pate members
equipped with a cutting surface, and the other plate member
equipped with an ironing surface, and which are adapted to be
inverted relative to each other so as to be utilized selectively as
a cutting board and in the inverted position as an ironing board
for fabric pieces which have previously been cut on the cutting
surface.
[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
rotatable turntable structure comprising a combined cutting plate
and an ironing board which are rotatable relative to each other so
as to enable the cutting of fabric without having to move the
template on the cutting surface and thereafter to be able, upon
inverting the structure, iron the cut fabric pieces on the ironing
board in a readily and easily accessible manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Reference may now be made to the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the reversible turntable
comprising the combined rotatable cutting and ironing board
pursuant to the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded side view thereof, taken
along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, generally diagrammatically representing
details of the internal structure of the turntable structure;
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view showing the cutting mat or
surface;
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view taken along FIG. 4-4 in
FIG. 2; and
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the ironing board
surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring in detail to the drawings, particularly FIG. 1,
there is illustrated a turntable assembly 10 constituted of a
circular disk member 12 having a cutting surface 14 as also shown
in FIG. 3 of the drawings, and which is constituted of a die cut
and hot stamp decorated top cutting board of a rigid plastic
material. The cutting surface 14 may be of a so-called
"self-healing nature" when subjected to cutting action.
[0025] Laminated thereto is a stock race assembly 16 comprising a
disk-shaped plate member 17 of rigid plastic, which is attached to
the opposite surface 14a of member 12 by gluing as is well known in
the art, and which on the opposite side thereof has a grommet and
sleeve member 19 rotatably connected to a stock race unit 18
constituted of plastic material. As shown in FIG. 2, in the
exploded transverse sectional view thereof, taken along line 2-2 in
FIG. 2, the stock race includes a first member 20 of a molded
plastic ring-shaped configuration, having an annular raised portion
22 adapted to receive a series of annularly spaced ball bearings 24
housed in a plastic cage structure 26 which is fully rotatable
about a central axis 27.
[0026] This arrangement, in effect, causes the top member 12 having
the cutting surface 14 to be equipped with a rotatable stock race
configuration, essentially analogous with that provided for in the
"Brooklyn Revolver" rotating turntable structure, as set forth
hereinabove.
[0027] Pursuant to the present invention, there is provided a
vacuum formed spacer 34 which is essentially a ring shaped disk
member having a circular central opening 34a outwardly about the
stock race structure 20 and including an annular raised flange 36,
the bottom surface thereof facing towards plate 17 being glued
thereto. This particular spacer ring 34 is a vacuum-formed plastic
member, and an annular raised surface 38 is adapted to have a
further annular disk or plate member 40 loosely supported thereon.
The plate member 40 is an essentially acrylic material disk of a
diameter analogous to that of plate structure 12 and has the inner
radial portion glued to the stock race raised surface 22 so as to
be rotatable therewith. The outer surface of plate member 40 is
adapted to be covered by an ironing board cover 42 having an
annular elastic band 44 extending thereabout so as to be able to be
snapped over the plate 40, and thereby provide an ironing surface
46, as is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.
[0028] Basically, the connection of the plate 40 to the stock race
assembly or ring member 20 enables them to be rotatable in
conjunction with each other, and also rotatable relative to the
ball bearing race which is fastened to the lower surface of plate
17. Consequently, both the plate structure 12 and the plate 40
mounting the ironing board cover 42 are rotatable relative to each
other about their common central axis.
[0029] In essence, during use as a cutting board for the segmenting
or cutting of fabric pieces, the ironing board cover as is
positioned in stationary relationship facing downwardly on a
support surface (not shown) so as to enable the upper cutting
surface 14 to rotate during use. The ironing board cover provides
adequate friction to prevent the entire arrangement 10 from sliding
about the support surface.
[0030] When it is desired to employ the arrangement 10 as an
ironing board, it is merely necessary to invert the entire
structure so as to have the surface 14 facing downwardly so as to
be supported on the previously mentioned support surface and the
ironing board 42 now faces upwardly to enable the fabric to be
ironed. The pressure of the iron is adequate to prevent slipping
between the support surface and the smooth surface of the plate 12,
while permitting rotation of the upper ironing board structure 40,
42 relative to the cutting member during ironing, as may be desired
by a user.
[0031] From the foregoing it thus clearly appears that the entire
arrangement is of an essentially simple inexpensive and portable
nature constituted primarily of readily molded or stamped plastic
components, which are attached to each other. Furthermore, although
described as being a circular turntable, the cutting and ironing
plate members thereof may be of polygonally-sided configurations,
such as squares, hexagons, or the like.
* * * * *