Non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and/or cutting fabrics and other soft materials and method thereof

Abstract

A device for measuring and cutting soft materials, wherein the device has a lower section and an upper section, the lower section having a bottom surface and a top surface, and at least one opening extending from the top surface to the lower surface. Bendable means on the upper section, and at least one piercing object carried by the bendable means, wherein the bendable means bends in response to a downward force applied to it, causing the piercing means to move through the opening and engage the soft material, said bendable means being self-retracting so that it returns to a natural resting position when the force ceases to exist, causing the piercing object to disengage from the soft material.

Claims

1. A non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials, comprising: A) a bottom surface; B) a top surface; C) a ruler edge; and D) a retractable friction means assembly comprising a bendable top element and a spacer, said bendable top element comprises a bendable top element back and pins, said retractable friction means assembly is mounted on said top surface, wherein said spacer attaches said bendable top element back to said top surface, whereby said spacer provides a space between said bendable top element and said top surface.

2. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said bendable top element further comprises a bendable top element front.

3. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 2, wherein said pins are mounted on said bendable top element front.

4. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 2, wherein said bottom surface sits on top of a fabric.

5. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 4, wherein said pins are secured to said bendable top element front and extends downward through a hole without engaging said fabric.

6. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 5, wherein said bendable top element is bent down when a user pushing down an area in close proximity to said bendable top element front.

7. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 6, wherein when said user pushing down said area in close proximity to said bendable top element front, said pins protrude from said hole passing through said bottom surface and pierce said fabric making difficult the movement with respect to said fabric.

8. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 6, wherein when said user stops pushing down on said bendable top element, said spacer urges said bendable top element to spring back to an original state, whereby said pins disengage said fabric.

9. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 6, wherein when said pins disengage said fabric said user can move said non-slip ruler freely.

10. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said pins are mounted in close proximity to said ruler edge.

11. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said bendable top element comprises pins.

12. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said bendable top element is attached to said spacer.

13. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said bendable top element is attached to said spacer on a portion adjacent to said bendable top element back.

14. The non-slip ruler for measuring, marking and cutting fabrics and other soft materials set forth in claim 1, wherein said bendable top element bends, allowing said pins to hold said non-split ruler at a desired place and angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B are top views of a cut being made without the advantage of the invention.

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show a ruler having the features of the invention.

(4) FIGS. 2C and 2D show one embodiment of the ruler of the invention being used to cut fabric.

(5) FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show a first alternate embodiment of the invention being used to cut fabric.

(6) FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show a second alternate embodiment of the invention being used to cut fabric.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(7) As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, to cut fabric 4 the user places ruler R on the desired spot and moves cutting tool CT, which, besides other components not shown, has a handle 6 and a cutting disk 8 that is moved along the ruler's edge 10, just like an employee would do to cut a pizza pie.

(8) To hold the ruler R, the user places his or her hand HD to apply downward pressure on ruler R. There would be some side pressure SP as the cutting tool CT moves along the ruler's edge 10.

(9) FIG. 1B shows the problem with conventional rulers. As cutting tool CT moves M away from the user's hand UH, side pressure SP can cause ruler R to slide sideways 12, resulting in an undesired cut 3 on fabric 4.

(10) Due to this problem, the activity of cutting fabrics requires more effort since the user has to put more pressure on the ruler to keep it from moving, which can result in wasted time and materials. Moreover, in the prior art just a few layers of fabric can be cut at one time since more layers cut at once will increase the probabilities of the ruler moving undesirably.

(11) FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show a non-slip ruler according to the invention that solves the problem mentioned above.

(12) FIG. 2A is a top view showing a non-slip ruler NR1, which has three spikes P1 placed on the bottom surface 18 of the ruler in the example shown,

(13) The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B shows how the user would get ready to cut multiple layers of fabric. The user places cutting mat CM on a table T, and in this example three layers of fabric 4. The user now places non-slip ruler NR1 on top of fabric 4, with spikes P1 facing the fabric 4.

(14) In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2C, the user proceeds to put pressure on the non-slip ruler NR1 top surface 20 until spikes P1 on the bottom surface 18 have pierced all three layers of fabric 4. In this way, the non-slip ruler NR1 will not move with respect to fabric 4. The user can now move M cutting tool CT along the ruler's edge 10 (shown in FIG. 2A), while putting downward pressure D on cutting tool CT to ensure that all layers of fabric 4 are cut correctly.

(15) The top view of FIG. 2D shows how the cutting tool CT has moved M, passing the point where the user's hand UH is holding the non-slip ruler NR1.

(16) Even though the user continues to put downward pressure D on the ruler, which inevitably would create side pressure SP on the ruler's edge 10, non-slip ruler NR1 will not move since spikes P hold the non-slip ruler NR1 in place with respect to fabric 4.

(17) Therefore, the user can easily accomplish a flawless, desired cut 2 without wasting time, money and materials.

(18) FIG. 3A is a top view of another embodiment NR6. In this embodiment, a retractable friction means assembly RFA1 has basically two elements: a flexible top element 22 and a spacer 28 that form an integral part of the non-slip ruler NR6. Flexible top element 22 is glued to spacer 28 on the portion adjacent to flexible top element back 24 and has three pins P2 mounted on flexible top element front 26 in close proximity to ruler edge 10.

(19) FIGS. 3B and 3C are cross-section views of non-slip ruler NR6. (See FIG. 3A (cs1′-cs1″)).

(20) FIG. 3B shows retractable friction means assembly RFA1 mounted on the top surface 20 of non-slip ruler NR6. The bottom surface 18 sits on top of fabric 4 on cutting mat CM. Spacer 28 provides a space between flexible top element 22 and non-slip ruler NR6 top surface 20, and attaches flexible top element back 24 to top surface 20. Pin P2 in close proximity to ruler edge 10, is secured to flexible top element front 26 and extends downward through hole H without engaging fabric 4. In this figure non-slip ruler NR6 is in its natural state and can slide and move on top of fabric 4 unrestricted.

(21) FIG. 3C shows how flexible top element 22 has bent down in response to user pushing down PD an area in close proximity to flexible top element front 26. This causes pin P2 to protuberate from hole H passed bottom surface 18 and pierce fabric 4 making it extremely difficult to move non-slip ruler NR6 with respect of fabric 4.

(22) Now, the user can proceed to move rotary cutter disk 8 along ruler edge 10 to cut fabric 4a without having to make a big effort since flexible top element 22 is designed to bend easily, allowing pin(s) P2 to do the work of holding non-slip ruler NR6 on the desire place and angle.

(23) The user, after cutting fabric 4a, stops pushing down PD on flexible top element 22, which will spring back to its original state (shown in FIG. 3B), causing pin P2 to disengage fabric 4 so user can move non-slip ruler NR6 freely, ready for the next cut.

(24) FIG. 4A is a top view of another embodiment of non-slip ruler NR7. This figure shows retractable friction means assembly RFA2, which has basically two elements: flexible top element 22 and spacer 28 and forms an integral part of non-slip ruler NR7. Flexible top element 22 is glued to spacer 28 on the portion adjacent to flexible top element back 24 and has three high friction coefficient element HF mounted on flexible top element front 26 in close proximity to ruler edge 10.

(25) FIGS. 4B and 4C are cross-section views of non-slip ruler NR7. (See FIG. 4A (cs1′-cs1″)). FIG. 4B shows retractable friction means assembly RFA2 mounted on the top surface 20 of non-slip ruler NR7. Bottom surface 18 sits on top of fabric 4 on cutting mat (CM). Spacer 28 provides a space between flexible top element 22 and non-slip ruler NR7 top surface 20 and attaches flexible top element back 24 to top surface 20.

(26) High friction coefficient element HF, in close proximity to ruler edge 10, is attached to the lower part of flexible top element front 26 and extends downward through hole H without engaging fabric 4. In this figure, non-slip ruler NR6 is in its natural state and can slide and move on top of fabric 4 unrestricted.

(27) FIG. 4C shows how flexible top element 22 has bent down in response to the user pushing down PD an area in close proximity to flexible top element front 26. This causes high friction coefficient element HF to protrude from hole H past bottom surface 18 and engage fabric 4, increasing friction coefficient IF between the bottom surface 18 and fabric 4, thus making it extremely difficult to move non-slip ruler NR7 with respect of fabric 4.

(28) Now, user can proceed to move rotary cutter disk 8 along ruler edge 10 to cut fabric 4a without having to make a big effort since flexible top element 22 is designed to bend easily, allowing high friction coefficient element HF to do the work of holding non-slip ruler NR7 on the desired place and angle.

(29) The user, after cutting fabric 4a, stops pushing down PD on flexible top element 22, which will spring back to its original state (shown in FIG. 4B), causing high friction coefficient element HF to disengage fabric 4 so user can move non-slip ruler NR7 freely, ready for the next cut.

(30) The novelty of the present invention is in the bending of the material, which makes it possible to engage and disengage the high friction means (metal pins, high friction silicone, etc.) without the need to use additional elements like hinges, guides, springs, etc.

(31) In using the invention, a ruler is placed on the top surface of a piece of fabric. A force is then applied to bend at least one section of the ruler until that section engages the fabric. Force is continually applied to that section while keeping that section bent and engaged with the fabric while using a cutting tool to cut the fabric along one edge of the ruler. The user then stops applying force, permitting the bent section to spring back to its original, natural shape and disengage from the fabric.

(32) While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the appended claims.