A TOOL FOR CUTTING AND CURLING A RIBBON SUCH AS THE ONE USED FOR GIFT PACKS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a tool for cutting and curling a ribbon such as the one used for gift packs, and other decorations.

Description of the prior art

Many kinds of ribbons made of either paper or plastics have the well-known property to curl when forced against the blade of knives or scissors and rubbed on it. The ribbon, which is originally straight, as an example either is used to wrap a gift pack, or portions of it are glued or attached onto a surface to be decorated, such as that of paper or of a wall, of a window, of furniture, etc..

In order to curl a ribbon, it is therefore sufficient to hold a blade, such as that of a knife or of a pair of scissors, and put a portion of the ribbon itself between the blade and one finger, normally the thumb. Then, when holding with the other hand an end of the ribbon and at the same time holding the blade with the first hand so as to keep the ribbon in the above described position, a relative rubbing movement of the ribbon with respect to the blade occurs if the hands move one away from the other. The local heat and the pressure acting on the ribbon when rubbing on the blade are able to produce an internal stretching on the ribbon which is responsible of the curling.

The method which has just been described is the most common for curling ribbons in order to make decorations to gift packs and the like. The shop assistants who are in charge of wrapping the gift normally execute the curling quickly and with skill. However, it is still necessary that they get hold of the sharp blade of a knife or of a pair of scissors in an improper way with respect to the correct use of the knife or of the scissors themselves. In particular, it is necessary that one of the fingers, in this case the thumb, is put in direct contact with the sharp edge of the blade. In addition, whenever a sufficiently sharp pair of scissors or a suitable blade, i.e. having a sharp not saw-toothed edge, is not available the curling is very difficult, if not impossible.

Another draw-back is that, since it is possible to get hurt, it is not advisable to keep the knife or the scissors in one's pocket. For this reason, when the ribbon is to be cut and curled, the tool is not immediately available and it must be looked for among many other things on the counter which the shop assistant is working on and which is often crowded with paper, gift packs, etc..

A special tool suited for cutting and curling a ribbon is described in WO-A-8911379 and comprises a pair of scissors formed by a first and a second blade moving with respect to one another. The first blade has two sharp edges, the first edge being opposite to the second edge and the latter coupling like scissors with the second blade. With the first blade's edge a cap engages covering it and creating a V path for the ribbon. More precisely, after cutting the ribbon with the scissors, which are formed as stated above by the second edge of the first blade and the second blade, it is possible to curl it by putting it between the cap and the first edge of the first blade and dragging it so that it is forced to grasp against the first edge owing to the presence of the cap which must be pressed by a user's finger.

This tool has many disadvantages. Firstly, it is quite complicated to use and expensive to manufacture, having two blades and three sharp edges. In addition, an external support for the blades and for the cap must be provided for. Another draw-back is that it is not possible to curl a ribbon close to the point where it is attached to the gift pack or to other surfaces. For this reason, with this special tool it is only possible to curl a ribbon before attaching it to the surfaces of the pack.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tool for cutting and curling a ribbon such as the one used for gift packs, which is simple to use and inexpensive to produce, and that in particular is able to curl a ribbon in whatever position and in the desired way.

This object is reached by the tool according to the present invention which comprises two flat substantially stiff elongated elements which are resiliently connected at one end and suitable to contact each other on opposite facing flat surfaces. At least one of the opposite facing flat surfaces is a friction surface for said ribbon and at least one of the elongated elements has a blade coinciding with one of the two longitudinal edges of the element itself.

Preferably the tool is pincer-shaped and each elongated element is a flat elongated plate. The friction surface is a knurled surface or is a layer of a frictional material attached to one of said facing surfaces.

The sharp edge can be used both to cut the ribbon, such as a paper knife, and to curl the ribbon by dragging in a frictioned way the ribbon itself between the two elongated elements while rubbing it against the edge.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the tool according to the present invention will be made more apparent in the description which follows of several of its possible embodiments, given as examples, but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cutting and curling tool according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an operative phase of the use of the tool of figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a tool according to the invention comprising a protective cap and a clip for hanging it on a pocket;
• Figure 4 and 5 show a side and top plan view respectively of a different embodiment of the tool of figure 1;
• Figure 6 and 7 show a side and top plan view respectively of another embodiment of the tool of figure 1;
• Figure 8 and 9 show a side and top plan view respectively of a further embodiment of the tool of figure 1.

Description of the preferred embodiments

With reference to figure 1, a tool according to the invention for cutting and curling a ribbon, such as the one used for gift packs or for decorating surfaces, comprises two elongated elements, 1 and 2, which are resiliently connected at an end, 1a and 2a, such as two flat elongated plates of a tweezers.

In the example of figure 1, the two elements 1 and 2 are welded at the ends 1a and 2a so that they are resiliently divergent of an angle comprised normally between 5° and 15°.

According to the invention the edge 3 of the element 1 is sharp and the element 2 comprises a layer 4 made of plastic material, such as a layer of glue, or of leather, cardboard or fabric. The layer 4 has the function of increasing the friction between the inner surfaces of elements 1,2 which face one another and a ribbon which is dragged therebetween.

With reference to figure 2, where the tool is shown after having been rotated of 180° with respect to figure 1, in order to curl the ribbon 5 it is sufficient to put it between elements 1 and 2 where the layer 4 is present. Then, holding the tool in between the two fingers 6 the user can put the elements 1 and 2 into contact, whilst the ribbon is firmly held by the fingers 7 of the other hand. Afterwards, a force is applied to the tool by fingers 6 in the direction of arrows 8, i.e. upwards in figure 2, so that a relative movement is created between the ribbon 5 and sharp edge 3. It is important that the ribbon 5 is kept substantially orthogonal to the plane which substantially contains the flat elongated element 1.

The force applied to the ribbon 5 and necessary to overcome the friction between the ribbon itself and the opposite surfaces of the element 1 and of the friction surface 4 belonging to element 2, is responsible of the curling. More precisely, such force applies locally to the ribbon 5 via the sharp edge 3.

The sharp edge 3 can also be used to cut the ribbon, as a paper knife, starting from the same position of figure 2. For this purpose, however, it is necessary that the fingers 7 operate a twisting action on the ribbon with respect to the sharp edge 3.

As it is apparent from figure 2, during the cutting or the curling of the ribbon 5, the user's finger 6 and 7 are kept sufficiently far from the sharp edge 3, without the possibility of getting harmed. In addition, the pressure exerted by the finger 6 is not high, because the layer 4 is capable of creating a sufficient friction on the ribbon 5 even in the presence of low pressure.

According to a different embodiment of the invention, not shown, instead of the layer 4, a knurled surface is provided for on at least one of the faces of either element 1 or 2 which touch one another. Even if the friction is not substantially increased, the knurled surface is easier to manufacture, in particular when the tool is made of plastics and is produced by an injection moulding process.

The embodiment of the invention having the elements 1 and 2 which are welded together is only an exemplifying one. In fact, it is possible that they are hinged together by a pivot 15 and between them a spring 16 is attached, as shown in figures 4 and 5.

The ends 1b and 2b as shown in figures 1 to 3 are pointed sharply in order to make easier the engagement with the ribbon. Advantageously, a cap 10 is provided (fig. 3) to cover them which could otherwise hurt the user and at the same time keep the tool in a closed position. However, as shown in figures 4 to 9, the ends 1b and 2b may be rounded for manufacturing reasons, especially when the tool is made of plastics.

In order to make the tool according to the invention easier to handle and to keep, according another embodiment it is possible, as shown in figures 3, 6 and 7, that one of the elements 1 or 2 comprises a clip 9 suitable to allow the hanging on a pocket. The clip 9 as shown in figures 6 and 7, is also shaped so as to substantially form a ring 11 in which the thumb of the user can engage thus improving the grip of the tool itself.

Concerning the material which the tool is made of, the elements 1 and 2 may be made of steel or plastics. In the latter case, the edge 3 may be strengthened by means of sharp inserts.

With reference to figure 8 and 9, finally, the tool according to the invention may also be formed by a single elongated plated element 12 whose middle portion is wound about a cylindrical fulcrum 13 and glued or welded thereon. This way, the element 12 forms both the element 1 and 2 of the tool as above described and can be produced in a very cheap way. In fact, before winding the element 12 on the fulcrum 13, it is possible to create the layer 4 on at least one of the surfaces 12a or 12b which are facing in use. This layer may be formed by a spread or sprayed glue or other plastic material, or it may be formed by a film of leather or plastic attached thereon.

The tool according to the invention has therefore the following advantages:

• it can be used to curl a ribbon and even if already attached to a surface to be decorated;
• it can be used to cut the ribbon before curling or after curling in whichever point by means of the sharp edge 3;
• it is easy and cheap to manufacture;
• it is structured so that it is impossible to hurt the user;
• it is light and can be kept in a pocket.