Improvements in or relating to Pruning or like Tools.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pruning or like Tools.
I, DON SERAFINO DONZELLA, of Dogliani, Italy, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The usual instrument for use in pruning trees, consists of a rod or pole which
serves as a handle, surmounted by shears which are held open by a flat spring
placed between the tail ends of the blades, as in ordinary hand shears. In order
to close the blades and to make the shears act, a cord is used which extends out-
side the pole and is connected to the handle, and is quickly worn out or rendered
useless. Moreover the invariable length of the handle is not always convenient
for the different heights at which it is desired to use the shears. This invention
obviates these drawbacks by means of the improvements illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing.
According to this invention the shears C are secured to the end of a hollow rod
or tube P, one of their tails C being in one piece with or connected to a ferrule g¹ at
the top of the tube. The tube may be in one or more sections, the latter arrange-
ment being preferable. The drawing shows it in two sections. These two sec-
tions are connected by a bayonet joint or in any other suitable way, pre-
ferably, however by screw rings a a². The result is that the instrument may
be made very compact so that it can be placed in a bag and carried about and
lengthened when required. The other tail end of the shears, which is movable,
The other end of the
has a hooked end with which engages a bracket or link, 8.
link is screw-threaded internally and serves for attaching the upper end of a wire,
rod or operating connection contained in the tubular part pl. A spring m of a
suitable shape and elasticity depending on the size and power of the tool, is arranged
on the upper part of the rod or the like ', between the part and a washer ŕ or
abutment at the end of the tube pl. It is preferable to make this spring in the
form of a coiled strip of tempered steel, said strip being single or double and cut
in the shape of a V from a piece of sheet metal. Of course the spring may be
also arranged within the tube if desired. The rod or actuating device is also in
sections t¹ etc. corresponding to those of the tubular parts p p etc. the sections
being connected by hooks and prevented by the tension of spring from becoming
disengaged one from the other.
At the lower end of the tube or tubes there is also arranged a ferrule g² con-
nected to the tail-end b¹ of the handle B of the tool. The other tail end or handle b
is preferably provided with a guard 63, an adjustable stop and means for holding
the shears closed when desired. For this latter purpose it is preferable to have
simply a loop e say of leather secured by a screw. The rod of the section 7
terminates in a thumb nut mounted in a fork f on the handle, so that the
tension of the string can be thus regulated and the pulling action for closing the
shears, effected.
The working of the instrument is simply as follows:
If it is long and heavy, it will be supported by one hand and operated with the
If short it can be worked with only one hand. When the ends and 61

page_text: are pressed together, the fork facts on the nut d and pulls down the movable
end thus closing the shears. By opening the hand, the spring m automatically
opens the shears.
The tube is preferably made of wood, but may be also made of iron or other
metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. In a pruning or like tool a tubular part containing the operating rod or
connection and carrying a handle at the bottom.
2. A pruning or like tool comprising a tubular or hollow rod in two or more
sections connected together by screw-threaded bayonet or other joints.
3. In a pruning or like tool an operating connection between the handle and
the shears arranged in the interior of the tubular rod and serving to transmit
the action from the handle to the shears.
4. In a pruning or like tool a helical spring for reopening the shears, made of a
single or double strip of sheet metal of V shape and arranged between stops on
the movable and fixed parts of the tool.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete pruning
or like tool substantially as described or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 21st day of June 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.