Improvements in Finger-nail Clippers or Cutters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Finger-nail Clippers or Cutters.
I, LEWIS ISAAC Cooк, a Citizen of the United States, residing in Ansonia, in
the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, Machinist and Manufacturer,
dó 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in finger-nail clippers or cutters and the
main object of my improvements are simplicity and economy in construction and
efficiency and convenience in use.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view of my clipper when closed for carrying in ones pocket.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, on the line .c.r of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same with the operating lever released for
use, and
Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof.
My improvement consists mainly of a rigid member A, a spring member B,
an operating lever and a button C on the top of the rigid member for holding the
operating lever D in its closed position. The rigid and spring member are prefer-
ably formed from a single piece of sheet metal, swaged or struck up into form
and doubled upon itself at their junction. The ends of these members that are
opposite the said junction are formed with curved cutting edges 7 that shut
squarely against each other as in ordinary cutting pliers. The operating lever I
is pivoted to the rigid member A by the pin 5, Figs. 2 and 4, and shuts down
into the longitudinal slot 6 of the rigid member. Near the end of the slot 6 I
secure a post or stud 8 to the heel of the spring member B with the headed end
of said post extending through the slot G and with a turn button C secured to
said headed end on the top of the implement, whereby when the lever D is forced
into its closed position within the slot 6 the button may be turned to bring one
of its projections over the end of the said lever and hold it and the jaws in their
closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I prefer also to provide the said
button C with a friction device to prevent accidental turning and a good; device
for that purpose is the coiled spring 9, that surrounds the body of the post
and presses on the under side of the button. By turning the button into a
position to carry its projection or projections away from over the end of the
operating lever D said lever is released and is forced outwardly by the spring
member B ready for use as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
By my improvement the operating lever is conveniently secured in its closed
position and the means for holding it in place are free from any prominent pro-
jections and are not liable to accidentally move so as to get in the way of the
onerating lever when in use.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a finger nail clipper, the combination of the operating lever and cutters
with the turn button flatly secured on the top of the implement in position for
being turned over the end of the said operating lever substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1899.
LEWIS ISAAC COOK.