Improvements in or Additions to Button-hole and other Scissors.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in or Additions to Button-hole and other Scissors.
We, LUCY VAUGHAN REES, of 14 Marine Terrace, Aberystwith, in the County of
Cardigan, Spinster, and SAMUEL HARRIS LEVI, of 43 London Wall, in the City of
London, Merchant, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The object of our invention is to provide button-hole scissors, and other scissors,
with an appliance, attachment, or means, whereby a series of button holes, or strips or
lengths of material, can be cut equidistantly from each other, without it being
necessary to have recourse to a measuring tape, or to a strip of paper, or cloth, as is
now the practice, the manipulation of which obviously occupies some time.
We proceed to describe our Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
which illustrate several modes of carrying out the same, the principle of the invention
being, however, alike in each instance.
According to one arrangement, that shewn in fig. 1, which represents in perspective
view, a button-hole scissors with our invention applied thereto, one of the blades A, of
the scissors is pierced with a hole a, through which a rod b (screw-threaded or not)
forming a gauge, passes, and extends on each side of the blade. At its outer end, this
rod b is provided with an index or pointer c, having a slot d, working over a pin e, to
permit of the ready adjustment of the index or pointer to varying distances. By
screwing or by sliding the rod b, backwards or forwards, the distance between which
the button holes, or the strips or lengths of material, are to be cut, can be regulated
with precision.
The end of the rod forming the gauge may however be simply bent or turned up at
a right angle, and this bent or turned up portion lying parallel with the blade of the
scissors would answer the purpose of the index or pointer c, before mentioned.
In another arrangement, shewn in fig. 2, the rod b, forming the gauge, is secured in
the rivet, of the scissors, the rivet being bored, or made hollow, for the purpose.
The index or pointer c, is pivotted to an eye 9, which can be slidden along the rod b,
for the distance required, at which the button holes, or the lengths or strips of material,
Γ

page_text: are to be cut one from the other. The outer extremity of this rod is formed with a
projection, which serves as a step or abutment for the pointer when moved outwards
to its full extent.
In a further modification, shewn in fig. 3, the appliance or attachment consists of a
slotted bar b, along which the index or pointer c, is free to travel, the index or
pointer itself being slotted, as in fig. 1, and for the same reason. The inner end of the
bar is soldered to, or formed in a piece with, a spring clip or saddle i, which latter
is so shaped as to close upon and adapt itself to the blades of the scissors when it is
placed over the "joint" thereof, in the manner shewn in the figure. This spring clip
or saddle, which is shewn clearly in the detached view fig. 3*, is further provided
with holes or slots j, jx, to allow passage to the rivet, to permit of the necessary move-
ment of the blades, and to prevent the falling off of the appliance, when the scissors
are in use.
--Fig. 4, represents a further modification of our Invention, in which the rod b, is
inserted by screwing, or otherwise,-in-the "joint" of the scissors, but which rod may,
however, be inserted in any other suitable part of the scissors, as-for-instance in the
orifice a, or in the rivet f. Along this rod b, a slotted tube b*, carrying a pointer c,
In this
is free to travel, the outward extent of such travel being limited by a stud e.
modification the appliance can be detached when not required for use, and be readily
applied when necessary.
Fig. 5 shews an arrangement of spring clip or saddle applied to a pair of ordinary
scissors. In this instance the clip terminates, on one side, in a fork, or in tongues,
between which the rivet lies and is free to turn, while the other side, which is slotted,
as shown at jx in figs. 3 and 3*, is provided with an orifice at s, to receive the arrange-
ment of rod and pointer shewn in fig. 1.
Any of the arrangements of rod and pointer herein described, may however
equally well be used in combination-with the spring clip or saddle piece shewn in
Fig. 5.
In each of the foregoing examples the pointer or index c, is so arranged that it can
be folded down and lie upon the rod b, when not required for use, or when the
appliance is detached from the scissors.
A graduated scale may be engraved upon the rod, or bar, b, if desired.
When using the scissors to which the gauge is fitted, it is only necessary, after the
first button hole has been cut, or the first slit has been made in the material, to with-
draw the scissors and carry the same along the material until the required distance
for another button hole, or slit, be attained, which is indicated directly the pointer or
index is in alignment with the first button hole, or slit, and so on with the next and
every succeeding one throughout the entire series.
Having now described our Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, we declare that we claim :-
1. Providing button-hole, or other scissors, with an appliance, attachment, or means,
whereby a series of button holes, or strips or lengths of material, can be cut equi-
distantly from each other, without having recourse to a measuring tape, substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The appliance, attachment, or means, for use with button-hole, or other scissors,
for gauging the distance apart at which the button holes, or strips or lengths of
material, are to be cut, consisting of a gauge rod provided with an index or pointer
pivotied thereto, said rod being adapted to pass through and be held by one of the
blades of the scissors, substantially as described and as shewn with reference to fig. 1
of the drawings.
3. The appliance, attachment, or means, for use with button-hole, or other scissors,
for the purposes above set forth, consisting of a gauge rod along which a pivotted index
or pointer is free to travel, the said rod fitting into the rivet of the scissors which is
adapted to receive it, substantially as described and as shewn with reference to fig. 2
of the drawings.
4. The appliance, attachment, or means, for use with button-hole, or other scissors,

page_text: for the purposes above set forth, consisting of a spring clip or saddle adapted to
embrace the "joint" of the scissors, and provided with a slotted gauge bar along
which a slotted and pivotted index or pointer is free to be slidden, the said clip or
saddle being also slotted to allow passage to the rivet and to permit of the movement
of the blades, while retaining the appliance in position, substantially as described and
as shewn with reference to figs. 3 and 3* of the drawings.
5. The appliance, attachment, or means, for use with button-hole, or other scissors,
for the purposes above set forth, consisting of a gauge rod over which a slotted tube,
carrying an index or pointer, is free to be slidden, and is controlled by a pin on said
rod, the inner extremity of this rod being fitted into the scissors at any suitable part
thereof, substantially as described and as shewn with reference to fig. 4 of the
drawings.
6. The appliance, attachment, or means, for use with button-hole, or other scissors,
for the purposes above set forth, consisting of a spring clip or saddle terminating in
a fork, or in tongues, and adapted to embrace the "joint of the scissors, said clip or
saddle being provided with an orifice to receive a gauge rod carrying an index or
.pointer, substantially as described and as shewn with reference to fig. 5 of the
drawings.
7. In combination with the spring clip or saddle, shewn in fig. 5, the employment
of any of the combined arrangements of rod and pointer herein described and shewn
with reference to figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of April 1887.
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicants.