Improvements in Clasp Knives.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1889-Accepted, 11th June 1889
and State of New 1ork, United States of America.j
*PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clasp Knives.
I WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of 156 Strand in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to that class of Knives, commonly known as clasp knives, and
which are adapted to be carried in the pocket.
The nature of the invention consists in the combination with a hollow shallow
case constructed with a bottom having two longer parallel edges, and two shorter
curved ends, to which are adapted and conformn, sides and ends standing at right
angles to said bottom, clasps upon the upper edge of one of said longer sides, a cover
of the same size and form of said bottom hinged by one of its edges to the upper
edge of the other one of said longer sides, and catches upon the free edge of said
cover, adapted to engage clasps upon the side of said case when said cover is closed
thereon, of one or more knife blades, pivotally attached by one end within one end of
the said case and adapted to fold in and out of said case, lugs in the end of said case
where said blade is pivoted, to reinforce said case, and clasp the shank of said blade
or blades firmly on all sides when the cover of said case is closed, a covering slide
actuated by a spring fastened in said case, and so adapted and arranged that when
said blade is opened out, it will be pushed backward on the end of said case; but
when said blade is folded into said case, it will be prompted forward by said spring
attached thereto, and held over the aperture in said case, where the shunk of said
blade or blades, was held when open, and a spring within said case adapted to
throw the free end of said blade or blades outward when said case is opened.
The blades of this knife are made of steel and of much the usual form. The case
may be made of any of the materials used for the manufacture of knife handles,
and is constructed so that it can be used as a handle when the blade or blades
are open, and as a box or case in which they are contained when closed. The
blades being so constructed and arranged that they may be closed into, and opened
out of said case at pleasure. The shank of the blade is pivoted edgewise, the rivet
passing through in a line parallel to the plane of the blade, instead of transversely
thereto, and the prompting spring acting upon the side of the blade, instead of the
back thereof.
The advantages of this construction are very obvious, among which are,
That the blade when open is held very firmly in place, and is not by any mishap
inclined to close upon the hand of the operator, and that as the blade when shut
is entirely enclosed within the case, it is not so apt to become corroded or rusty,
and can always be kept in much better order than if the knife were constructed in the
usual way.
DL: 112
CT 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clasp Knives.
I WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of 156 Strand in the County of Middlesex.
Patent Agent 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 :—

page_text: My invention relates to that class of knives, commonly known as clasp knives, and
adapted to be carried in the pocket.
The nature of the invention consists in the combination with a hollow shallow case,
constructed with a bottom having two longer parallel edges, and two shorter curved
ends, substantially as heremafter more fully set forth, to which are adapted and
conform, sides and ends standing at right angles to said bottom, clasps upon the upper
edge of one of said longer sides, a cover of the same size and form of said bottom,
binged by one of its edges to the upper edge of said other longer side, and catches
upon the free edge of said cover, adapted to engage the clasps upon the side of said
case when said cover is closed thereon, of a knife blade pivotally attached by one
end within one end of said case and adapted to fold into and out of said case, lugs in
the end of said case where said blade is pivoted, to reinforce said case, and clasp the
shank of said blade firmly on all sides when the cover of the said case is closed, a
covering slide actuated by a spring fastened in sad case, and so adapted and
arranged that when said blade is opened out, it will be pushed backwark on the end
of said case, but when said blade is folded into said case will be prompted forward by
said spring attached thereto, and held over the aperture in said case, where the shank
of said blade was held when said blade was open, and a spring within said case
attached to the pivot of said blade, and adapted to throw the free end of said blade
outward when said case is opened.
The nature of the invention also consists in the details of combination and con-
struction, substantially as illustrated in the diawings, hereinafter described, and
subsequently pointed out in the claims
Figure 1, illustrates our newly invented knife with the blade folded in and the
cover closed.
Figure 2, illustrates the same with the cover open.
Figure 3, is a detail view illustrating the blade
Figure 4, is another detail view illustrating the covering slide more fully hereinafter
described.
Figure 5, illustrates one of the reinforcing lugs more fully hereinafter described.
Figure 6, illustrates a spring more fully hereinafter described.
Figure 7, is a sectional view taken through the case, transversely, where the blade
is pivoted.
Figure 8, illustrates our knife with the blade open.
Figure 9, is a sectional view taken lengthwise, illustrating the blade as closed.
Figures 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15, are views illustrating various modifications of my
invention.
Figures 13, 16, and 17, are detail views illustrating various parts of the invention.
A, designates the cover of the case, C the sides, and ends, and A', the back thereof.
The sides C, and bottom A', form the body of the case To this is attached the cover A,
by the hinges D. Upon the free edge of the cover A, are fastened the catches b¹¹
these engage the clasps b, upon the upper edge of the side c, when the cover is closed.
These catches and clasps may be of any approved construction. The blade is of the
form represented by M, of Figure 3 Its shank, which is notched as illustrated, is
thicker than the body of the blade, and is pierced with a cylindrical hole for the pivot S.
This blade is pivoted by its shank, in one end of the case as illustrated This end of
the case is reinforced by the lugs E, E, E', and E" E', is fitted to the cover A,
and E to the sides, and E" to the botton thereof. All these lugs bear on the shank
of the blade when the cover is closed and hold it steadily in place The spring F,
embraces the pivot S, within the notch M of the blude, and pressing upon the
bottom of the case and being compressed by the blade when the case is shut and the
blade folded within it, by reason of its resilience gives the free end of the blade an
outward impulse, when the cover of the case is opened. This spring may be made
strong enough to throw the blade entirely open. In the slot H, of the lug E, works
the spring C, which is fastened by one end within the case, and with the other end
carries the sliding cover C. This cover is adapted to fit upon the end of the case.
When the blade is open it 19 pushed backward as illustrated in full lines in

page_text: Figure 11 and in dotted lines in Figure 5, but when the blade is closed it instantly
springs forward over the aperture in the end of the case, in which the shank of the
blade was held when said blade was opened and effectually closes it
The shank of the blade, may however be constructed without the said notch as is
illustrated by M", of Figures 12, 13, and 14 In this case, the prompting spring is
attached to the bottom of the case as illustrated by F1, of Figures 11, 14, and 15
Other implements may be substituted for a knife blade in this case, as for example
the saw Mx, of Figure 10.
Or if it be desired knife blades and other implements may be hinged in pairs or
sets to one or both ends of the case as illustrated in Fig. 15, in which R, and R¹
designate knife blades, O₁ an awl, M*, a saw, O, a pair of tweezers, and O¹¹, a nail
cleaner.
Or if it be desirable, the sides instead of being integral and reaching to the cover,
may be divided half way between the bottom and the cover, and blades or implements
hinged both to the cover and to the bottom.
When more than one implement 13 hinged in said case, it would be very incon-
venient to have them all thrown upward at once by their prompting springs, to
prevent this the stops K have been provided. The cross piece L, is so arranged, as
illustrated, that in connection with the shank 1 of the stop K, three implements
may be held at once. To release one of these implements, if it be held by the cross
piece L, the stop K, may be slipped up or down, as may be required in a slot provided
for that purpose in the side of the case, and carrying L, with it releases one or the
other of said implements. If the implement be held by the shank I¹ of the stop K,
it may be drawn out a little to release the implement, and when left free will be
returned to its original position by the resilience of the spring v. But if only one
of the implements in the middle of the case were opened out, it might not be steady
enough if held only by the bearing of its shank on the shank of the adjacent imple-
ment On this account to give it additional support, the lug E" may be formed with
an offset and thinner part, P¹, against which offset the middle implement may be
hinged. The slot H, of said lag in which the spring C, works, may have a wider
part, and a shoulder P. In which wider part and upon which shoulder, the shank of
said middle implement may be held, while opened out. This construction is illustrated
and designated by the appropriate letters in Figures 15, 17, and 18.
Having now fully described and ascertained what the nature of my invention is
and how the same is constructed and performed, I do hereby declare that what I
claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is
1 The combination with a hollow shallow case constructed with a bottom having
two longer parallel edges and shorter curved ends substantially as hereinbefore set
forth, to which are adapted, and with which conform, sides and ends standing at right
angles to said bottom, clasps upon the upper edge of one of said longer sides, a
cover of the same size and form of said bottom, hinged by one of its edges to said
other longer side, and catches upon the free edge of said cover, adapted to engage
the clasps upon the side of said case when said cover is closed thereon, of a knife
blade pivotally attached by one end within one end of said case, and adapted to fold
in and out of said case, lugs in the end of said case where said blade is pivoted, to
reinforce said case and clasp the shank of said blade firmly on all sides when the
cover of said case is closed, a covering slide actuated by a spring fastened in said case,
and so adapted and arranged, that when said blade is opened out, it will be pushed
backward on the end of said case, but when said blade is folded into said case will be
prompted forward by said spring attached thereto and held over the aperture in said
case where the shank of said blade was held when said blade was open, and a spring
in said case attached to the pivot of said blade, and adapted to throw the free end of
said blade outward when said cover is opened all substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination with the bottom A¹ of the case, the sides and ends C, of the
same, the cover A, hinged to said case as specified, the clasps b, attached to the

page_text: side of said case, and the catches 6 attached to said cover, and adapted to engage
each other as specified, of the blade M', pivoted to the said case as specified, the
pivot S, connecting said blade with said case, the lugs E, E, E', and E", rein-
forcing said case and clasping the shank of said blade, the sliding cover C, the
spring C, attached by one end to said sliding cover C₁, and by the other to said case,
and the spring F, attached to the pivot of said blade within said case, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3 The combination with the case, A, A¹, (', constructed as specified and claimed,
of the saw M*, hinged within said case held by the cross piece L of the stop K, the
awl O¹, hinged in said case held by the shank of the stop K, and prompted by the
spring F1, the spring F, fastened to said case and prompting the awl O₁, the blades R
and R', hinged in said case, and held by the cross piece L, of the stop K, the tweezers 0,
hinged in said case and held by the shank of the stop K, the nail cleaner O",
hinged in said case, and held by the cross piece L of the stop K, the stops K, and
their cross pieces L and springs attached together, and working in said case as
specified, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of March 1889
WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY.