AN IMPROVE- MENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR CLASP KNIVES, APPLICABLE TO SUCH OTHER ARTICLES AS SHUT OR CLOSE AFTER THE MANNER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rock, junior, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Factor, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
MENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR CLASP KNIVES, APPLICABLE TO
Sealed the 22nd September 1853, and dated the 24th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th June 1853.
I, JOSEPH ROCK, junior, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Factor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR CLASP KNIVES, APPLICABLE
TO SUCH OTHER ARTICLES AS SHUT OR CLOSE AFTER THE MANNER OF CLASP
KNIVES," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists in applying a roller to the tang, or that
part of the blade of a spring or clasp knife against which the spring of
the said knife bears and closes the said knife,

page_text: Fig. 1, represents a closed knife constructed according to my Inven-
tion; and Fig. 2, represents the same unclosed. a, is the axis on
which the blade b, turns in shutting. c, is the roller turning upon the
axis d, on the tang of the blade b. e, is the spring which closes the
knife, which said spring bears against the roller c; the said roller c,
axis d, and spring e, are represented in dotted lines. Fig. 3, repre-
sents a modification of my Invention, in which the tang need not be
longer than in the ordinary clasp knife. In this case the axis f, of the
blade does not pass through the said blade (the roller c, preventing it),
but is formed by two pins or projections (one on each side of the
tang) passing through or engaging in depressions in the haft g. The
said haft is strengthened by the screw or pin h, which gives the
stability to the said haft usually afforded by the axis of the blade.
Instead of attaching the roller to the tang of the blade, I sometimes
attach it to the spring itself, but I prefer attaching it to the blade.
The use of the said roller is to diminish the friction between the blade
and spring, and facilitate the opening and closing of the knife.
Invention is applicable to pocket combs and such other articles as close
after the manner of clasp knives.
My
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Rock in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 20th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH ROCK, junior, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Factor, send greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Rock, Her special
licence that I, the said Joseph Rock, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Rock, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no

page_text: others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, ex-
ercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING OR CLASP KNIVES, APPLI-
CABLE TO SUCH OTHER ARTICLES AS SHUT OR CLOSE AFTER THE MANNER OF
CLASP KNIVES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Rock, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calen-
dar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Rock, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists in applying a roller or rollers, or portion of a
roller, to the tang or that part of the blade of a spring or clasp knife
against which the spring of the said knife bears and closes the said
knife. Instead of applying the said roller or rollers to the tang, I some-
times apply the said roller to the spring.
Figure 1, represents in section a clasp knife constructed according
to my Invention; and Figure 2, represents a front view of the same.
a, is the axis on which the blade, turns in shutting or closing the
knife. c, is the roller turning upon the axis d, on the tang e, of the
blade b. f, is the spring which closes the knife, which said spring
bears against the roller c.
Figure 3, represents in section another method of carrying my
Invention into effect; and Figure 4, represents in front view a portion
of the same. In this modification the tang g, need not be longer (or
but little longer) than in clasp knives of the ordinary construction. In
this modification the axis h, on which the blade i, turns does not pass
through the said blade as in the knife, Figures 1, and 2, but the said axis
is formed of two pins or projections h; h', (see Figure 4,).one formed on

page_text: is open.
each side of the blade; the said pins pass through or work in the haft k.
The said pins h, h', are formed on or attached to the blade by forging,
or by soldering, screwing, or otherwise. I sometimes introduce a flat
rivet or support at 1, against which rivet the blade bears when the knife
The spring works immediately below the said rivet as
represented. The object of the said rivet is to bind together the hafts,
and give that stability to the knife which is given by the axis of the
blade in knives of the ordinary construction, as well as in the knife,.
Figures 1, and 2. By constructing the axis of the blade in the way
last described the roller m, may in part occupy that part of the tang g,
through which the axis ordinarily passes, so that the said tang need not
have the additional length which is necessary in the knife, Figures 1,
and 2.
When I carry my Invention into effect in the manner illus-
trated in Figures 1, and 2, I make the upper part of the spring f,
concave, as shown at f', so as to diminish the range of the said spring's
motion on opening or shutting the knife. The extent of the motion of
the spring would be inconveniently great but for the concavity f', owing
to the length of the tang e. When I carry my Invention into effect
according to the method illustrated in Figures 3, and 4, the range of
the motion of the spring n, is not more, or but little more, than in an
ordinary knife, and there is no need of the concavity f', in Figure 1.
The said concavity may, however, be employed where it is wished to
prevent the knife closing rapidly.
Figure 5, represents in section a knife constructed according to
another method of carrying my Invention into effect. In this modifi-
cation two rollers o, p, are employed, one placed at each angle of the
tang.
Figure 6, represents in section a knife constructed according to
another method of carrying my Invention into effect, which method
consists in placing the roller q, in the spring 1, instead of on the tang 8.
The spring r, and roller q, are represented apart from the knife in
Figure 7.
In applying my Invention to such knives as have two small blades
at one end, and one large blade at the other, I sometimes insert the
roller used with the large blade between the two springs. Figure 8,

page_text: represents a back view of a knife constructed according to this
modification of my Invention; the roller u, works between the two
springs t, t', portions of the said springs being cut away to admit of
the said roller. I sometimes modify my Invention in the manner
illustrated in Figure 9, that is to say, I use only a quadrant w, or some
other portion of a roller instead of a complete roller, which said
quadrant has the same or nearly the same effect as a whole roller, and
permits the tang to be made much shorter than when a complete roller
is used. The use of a roller or rollers, or part of a roller, is to
diminish the friction between the tang and spring, and facilitate the
opening and closing of the knife. My Invention is applicable to pocket
combs and such other articles as close after the manner of clasp knives.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise methods of carrying my
Invention into effect herein described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be modified without departing from
the nature of my said Invention; but I claim as my Invention the
introduction of a roller or rollers, or quadrant or other portion of a
roller, between the springs and tangs of clasp or spring knives, and such
other articles as shut or close after the manner of clasp knives.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rock, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOSEPH ROCK, JUNIOR.
(L.S.)
GEORGE SHAW, Witness.