MENTS IN CARVING FORKS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Barker Hatfield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1881.
WILLIAM BARKER HATFIELD, of Sheffield, in the County of York. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARVING FORKS."
"
My Invention relates to an improved construction of "guard" for carving forks,
which guard may also form a combined guard and rest, and it consists essentially
in constructing a guard that is raised and lowered by being turned on its shank,
which is let into the body of the fork instead of being raised vertically on a joint
or hinge in the usual manner.
In carrying out my Invention I make the guard of a convenient curved shape
by preference, and having a round shank at its lower end. I bore or otherwise
form in the body of the fork a hole corresponding in size to the diameter of the
shank of the guard, and by preference at an angle of forty five degrees or there-
abouts, the top of the hole looking forward over the prongs, and the bottom of
the hole being near the bolster. The angle of the guard in respect to its shank or
axis is such that in its lowest position, or when it is closed, it rests against the
root of the prongs in the usual position of fork guards, and when rotated to the
extent of half a revolution it attains its highest point or the desired position for
carving.
To retain the guard in the above position, the shank of the guard is by preference
split, and opened so as to act as a spring and engage with notches or indentations
in the sides of the hole in which it works, or other equivalents means may be used.
to attain the same object.
When required as a combined guard and rest, the ends of the split shank may be
extended so as to answer the purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Barker Hatfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th October 1881..
"
WILLIAM BARKER HATFIELD, of Sheffield, in the County of York. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARVING FORKS."
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of guards for carving
forks, and to the method of attaching them to the forks, and it consists principally
in so constructing the guard that it may be raised or lowered by simply rotating it
on its shank, by which simple movement the usual pin joint and separate spring
may be dispensed with.
In carrying out my Invention I make the upper portion of the guard of a con-
veniently curved shape, the lower portion being divided lengthwise, the two arms
being separated somewhat like the letter V. When pressed together the two arms
or a portion of them form a shank or axle, which stands at an angle of forty five
degrees or thereabouts to the upper portion of the guard.
$
A hole of a suitable size to receive the two arms when they are compressed so as
to form a shank or axle is made diagonally through the body of the fork, the top
opening looking forward over the prongs, and the bottom opening being near the
shoulder. When the guard is down it closes against the prongs, or in the usual
position of fork guards, but when it is rotated to the extent of a half revolution it
attains its open or highest position.
To retain the guard in either its open or closed position, grooves or indentations
may be made in the sides of the before described diagonal hole, and the arms
composing the shank or axle may be hardened and tempered so as to act as springs
and to engage in the. said grooves or indentations, and so retain the guard in the
desired position. Other equivalent means may be used to accomplish the same
object. A modification of my Invention may be made by making the upper
portion of the guard without a shank or axle, and securing it to the fork on a fixed
axis placed diagonally or at an angle. And in order that
my Invention may be
more fully understood, I will now refer to the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
premising that the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
←
Figure 1 represents a carving fork with a guard made according to my Invention,
the guard being closed.
Figure 2 represents the same fork with the guard open.
Figure 3 represents the guard when detached from the fork.
Figure 4, a side view of same.
Figure 5 represents a guard working on a fixed axis.
A is the body of the fork; B, the shoulder; C, the prongs; D, the guard; E, the
shank or axle formed by the arms F, F; G is the diagonal hole.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which it is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction of carving forks with guards, the said guards being
raised or lowered by rotating them on their shanks or axles, substantially as here-
inbefore described and illustrated.
Second. The use of guards for carving forks, having the axes or shanks on which

page_text: they turn placed diagonally to the centre line of the fork, for the purpose as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Barker Hatfield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM BARKER HATFIELD. (L.S.)