IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPERS FOR CLIPPING HORSESIKEPUR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lovell Phipps, of Aston, near Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPERS FOR CLIPPING HORSES AND
Sealed the 3rd March 1874, and dated the 10th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lovell Phipps
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th September 1873.
I, THOMAS LOVELL PHIPPS, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPERS FOR CLIPPING
HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
:-
My Invention consists of the construction and combinations or

page_text: The cutters consist of two plates having serrated edges, as in
clippers of the ordinary kind.
The moveable cutter is connected with the fixed cutter by means of
a slot in the said moveable cutter parallel to its cutting edge, a rib-
like projection on the fixed cutter of the same width as but shorter
than the said slot engaging in the said slot. By this means the
moveable cutter is guided and the parallelism of its motion preserved
upon the fixed cutter. A screw at the middle of the projection
described is fitted with a screw nut. The said screw has a square
shoulder at its base. A bow spring is dropped over the said screw, a
square hole in the middle of the said bow spring fitting on the square
shoulder at the base of the screw.
By advancing the screw nut described to a greater or less distance
on the said screw the said bow spring may be brought into any required
state of tension, and the said bow spring may thus be made to press
the moveable cutter in contact with the fixed cutter with any required
degree of pressure. The moveable cutter being thus kept to its
bearing on the fixed cutter by a spring its action is more certain and
uniform than when it is adjusted by screws or other fixed bearings.
The moveable cutter is covered by a case or cover, which is fixed at its
centre by the screw and screw nut, which serve to secure the bow
spring described. The moveable cutter is worked by a moveable handle
or lever turning on a pin or axis on the fixed cutter, the short arm
of the said lever taking into a slot in the edge of the said moveable
cutter. The clipper is held while being worked by a fixed handle.
On the motion of the moveable handle or lever a reciprocating motion
is given to the moveable cutter, and the clipping is effected by the
serrated edges of the two cutters in the ordinary way.
The fixed and moveable handles are connected to the plate of the
fixed cutter in the following manner :-On the under side of the head
of the fixed handle are two studs, which take into holes in the fixed
cutter. The head of the fixed handle is hollow or cut away, and the
head of the moveable handle or lever is passed under the hollow head
of the fixed handle. By passing a screwed pin through holes in
the said heads and fixed cutter and screwing a nut on its end the said
two handles are securely connected to the fixed cutter, the screwed pin
described constituting the axis on which the moveable handle or lever

page_text: turns. By this arrangement the head of the moveable handle has a
bearing both at top and bottom. The sides of the cut-away part in
the head of the fixed handle serve as stops to limit the motion of the
moveable handle or lever.
The parts for holding down and guiding the moveable cutter may
be modified in the following manner:-The rib like projection on the
fixed cutter may be dispensed with and instead thereof a slight recess
may be made in the same place, the screw on which the spring is fitted
standing in the middle of the said recess.
The spring in this modification has the following form :-Its middle
portion is concave, and its ends are convex. When put in its place on
the screw the middle concave portion of the spring enters the recess
in the fixed cutter, and the said spring is made thereby incapable of
motion about the screw as a centre. The convex ends of the spring
press upon the moveable cutter, while the middle portions of the spring
passing through the slot in the moveable cutter serve as guides to the
moveable cutter and preserve the parallelism of its motion. Or the
cutters, handles, and spring, may be connected by a central pin passing
through the several parts. The said pin is passed first through the
fixed cutter, its head taking into a countersink on the under side of the
fixed cutter. The moveable cutter is next placed on the fixed cutter,
the pin passing through its slot. The moveable handle is next placed
upon the said pin, which constitutes the centre on which the said
handle turns, a projection on the under side of the said moveable
handle engaging with a recess in the base of the moveable cutter. The
bow spring is then placed on the said pin and finally the fixed handle.
The middle of the spring takes into a recess in the under side of the
fixed handle, and the head of the said handle is expanded laterally on
each side of the centre, and each of the expanded parts carries on its
under side a pin, which pins pass through guiding slots in the moveable
cutter and engage in holes in the fixed cutter. A wedge-shaped cotter
is passed through a cotter hole in the pin and fixes all the parts
together. By driving the said cotter to a greater or less distance in
the cotter hole in the pin a greater or less tension may be given to the
spring.

page_text: handle and bears direct on the moveable cutter. The pressure is
regulated by the cotter described. The expanded part of the fixed
handle may be made to act as a case or cover.
In order to lubricate the moving parts I make transverse corrugations
on the inner opposed faces of the cutters. In these corrugations wool
or other porous material charged with oil or other lubricant is placed,
and during the working of the clipper the lubricant is pressed out of
the wool and is distributed over the moving parts. The bow spring
may be dispensed with and coiled springs substituted in its place. In
this case the pins described on the under side of the lateral extensions
of the head are made hollow and bear upon but do not pass through
the fixed cutter. Coiled springs are placed in the said hollow pins,
and screw pins pass from the fixed cutter through the axes of the
coiled springs and the top of the hollow pins described, and are fixed by
screw nuts. Besides the end springs a third middle coiled spring may
be employed.
I fix the wooden part of the handle to the metallic part by a taper
screw on the end of the latter screwing into a taper hole in the
former.
Clippers constructed according to my Invention besides being used
for clipping horses and other animals may be used when made of a
larger size for clipping the grass of lawns, and for clipping and shearing
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Lovell Phipps in the Great Seal Patent 2.
Office on the 5th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
LOVELL PHIPPS, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Lovell Phipps, Her special

page_text: license that I, the said Thomas Lovell Phipps, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Lovell
Phipps, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPERS FOR CLIPPING HORSES AND OTHER
ANIMALS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Lovell Phipps, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, 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 calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Lovell Phipps, 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 of the construction and combinations or
arrangements herein-after described of the parts of clippers for clipping
horses and other animals and for other like purposes.
The cutters consist of two plates having serrated edges, as in clippers
of the ordinary kind.
The moveable cutter is connected with the fixed cutter by means of a
slot in the said moveable cutter parallel to its cutting edge, a rib-like
projection passing through the fixed cutter of the same width as but
shorter than the said slot, engaging in the said slot. By this means the
moveable cutter is guided, and the parallelism of its motion preserved
upon the fixed cutter. A screw at the middle of the projection described
is fitted with a screw nut. The said screw has a square shoulder at its
base. A bow spring is dropped over the said screw, a square hole in the
middle of the said bow spring fitting on the square shoulder at the base
of the screw.
By advancing the screw nut described to a greater or less distance on
the said screw the said bow spring may be brought into any required

page_text: state of tension, and the said bow spring may thus be made to press the
moveable cutter in contact with the fixed cutter with any required
degree of pressure. The moveable cutter being thus kept to its bearing.
on the fixed cutter by a spring its action is more certain and uniform
than when it is adjusted by screws or other fixed bearings. The moveable
cutter is covered by a case or cover, which is fixed at its centre by the
screw and screw nut which serve to secure the bow spring described.
The moveable cutter is worked by a moveable handle or lever turning on
a pin or axis on the fixed cutter, the short arm of the said lever taking
into a slot in the edge of the said moveable cutter. The clipper
is held while being worked by a fixed handle. On the motion of the
moveable handle or lever a reciprocating motion is given to the moveable
cutter, and the clipping is effected by the serrated edges of the two
cutters in the ordinary way.
The fixed and moveable handles are connected to the plate of the fixed
cutter in the following manner :-On the under side of the head of the
fixed handle are two studs, which take into holes in the fixed cutter.
The head of the fixed handle is hollow or cut away, and the head of the
moveable handle or lever is passed under the hollow head of the fixed
handle. By passing a screwed pin through holes in the said heads and
fixed cutter, and screwing a nut on or driving a cotter through its end,
the said two handles are securely connected to the fixed cutter, the pin
described constituting the axis on which the moveable handle or lever
turns. By this arrangement the head of the moveable handle has a
bearing both at top and bottom. The sides of the cut away part in the
head of the fixed handle serve as stops to limit the motion of the
moveable handle or lever.
The parts for holding down and guiding the moveable cutter may be
modified in the following manner:-The rib-like projection passing
through the fixed cutter may be dispensed with, and instead thereof a
slight recess may be made in the same place, the screw on which the
spring is fitted standing in the middle of the said recess.
The spring in this modification bas the following form:-Its middle
portion is concave, and its ends are convex. When put in its place on the
screw the middle concave portion of the spring enters the recess in the fixed
cutter, and the said spring is made thereby incapable of motion about the
screw as a centre. The convex ends of the spring press upon the moveable
cutter, while the middle portions of the spring passing through the slot in

page_text: the moveable cutter serve as guides to the moveable cutter, and preserve
the parallelism of its motion. Or the cutters, handles, and spring may
be connected by a central pin passing through the several parts. The
said pin is passed first through the fixed cutter, its head taking into a
countersink on the under side of the fixed cutter. The moveable cutter
is next placed on the fixed cutter, the pin passing through its slot. The
moveable handle is next placed upon the said pin, which constitutes the
centre on which the said handle turns, a pin or stud on the under side
of the said moveable handle engaging with a recess in the base of the
moveable cutter. The bow spring is then placed on the said pin, and
finally the fixed handle. The middle of the spring takes into a recess in
the under side of the fixed handle, and the head of the said handle is
expanded laterally on each side of the centre, and each of the expanded
parts carries on its under side a stud, which studs pass through guiding
slots in the moveable cutter, and engage in holes in the fixed cutter. A
wedge-shaped cotter is passed through a cotter hole in the pin, and fixes
all the parts together. By driving the said cotter to a greater or less
distance in the cotter hole in the pin a greater or less tension may be
given to the spring.
Instead of a spring a fixed bearing plate may be used, or the front of
the fixed handle may be used as a bearing plate. The said bearing
plate is fixed on the fore under side of the head of the fixed handle, and
bears direct on the moveable cutter. The pressure is regulated by the
cotter described. The expanded part of the fixed handle acts as a case
or cover.
In order to lubricate the moving parts I make transverse corrugations
on the inner opposed faces of the cutters. In these corrugations wool or
other porous material charged with oil or other lubricant is placed, and
during the working of the clipper the lubricant is pressed out of the
wool, and is distributed over the moving parts. The bow spring may be
dispensed with, and coiled springs substituted in its place. In this case
the studs described on the under side of the lateral extensions of the
head are dispensed with, and coiled springs are placed around screw
pins, which pins pass through the fixed cutter and cover or handle, and
are fixed by screw nuts. Besides the end springs a third middle coiled
spring may be employed.
I fix the wooden part of the handle to the metallic part by a screw on
1
into a hole in the former.

page_text: Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
.describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in plan (partly in section) a clipper, portions of
which are constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a side
elevation of a part of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical
section of the same taken on the line a, a, of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a
plan of the moveable cutter detached; and Figure 5 is an edge view of
the stationary cutter detached; Figures 6 and 7 represent the upper parts
of the fixed and moveable handles of the clipper. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. 6 is
the stationary or under serrated cutter, and c is the moveable cutter
having a reciprocating or a to-and-fro motion upon the said stationary
cutter. The moveable cutter c is connected to the fixed cutter b, and
guided in its motion thereon by means of the rib-like projection d (see
Figure 3) on the said lower cutter 6, working in the longitudinal slot e
in the moveable cutter c. The said moveable cutter c is pressed into
contact with the fixed cutter 6 by means of the bow spring f, a square
hole in the middle of which fits upon a shoulder on the screw d. The
said screw d is made by preference from a prolonged part of the rib-like
projection d, by which the guiding of the moveable cutter is effected.
A screw nut h works on the screw d. By advancing the said screw
nuth to a greater or less distance on the said screw the bow spring f
may be brought into any required degree of tension, and the said bow.
spring may thus be made to press the moveable cutter c in contact with
the fixed cutter 6 with any required degree of pressure. The moveable
cutter c may be covered by a case or cover, which is fixed by the screw
and screw nut d³, h.
Figure 8 represents in plan, Figure 9 in cross section, and Figure 10
in longitudinal section a clipper constructed according to another part of
my Invention; Figure 11 represents the fixed cutter; and Figure 12,
the moveable cutter; Figures 13 and 14 represent the upper ends of the
fixed and moveable handles of the clipper. In this arrangement the
moveable cutter c is held down to and guided upon the fixed cutter 6 by
means of the spring i having the form represented, the said spring being
dropped upon the fixed screw pin k, and fixed in its place so as to
'be incapable of turning by the screw nut 7. The middle concave portion
of the spring i is situated in a slot c' in the moveable cutter c, while its

page_text: convex ends press upon the said moveable cutter, and hold it firmly upon
the lower fixed cutter.
By an examination of the Drawing it will be seen that the middle
portion of the spring i passing through the slot c* serves as a guide to
the moveable cutter, and preserves the parallelism of its motion.
The fixed and moveable handles of the two clippers already described
are connected to the fixed cutter, and the moveable cutter worked in the
following manner :-m is the handle by which the clipper is held, and n
is the moveable handle or lever for working the moveable cutter c. The
head m² of the fixed handle m has on its under side studs m³ (see
Figure 14) which take into holes 62, 63, (see Figure 11) in the fixed
cutter b. The said head m³ of the fixed handle m is hollow or cut away
at m', and the head n³ of the moveable handle or lever n is passed under
the said hollow head, and its end engaged in a slot c³ in the moveable
6 cutter c. The fixed handle m is secured in its place by means of the
screw pin p (or by a plain pin and cotter) passed through the centre of
the head m³, and upon the said screw pin p a screw nut q is screwed, the
plain part of the said screw pin constituting the axis on which the
moveable handle or lever n turns.
By an examination of the Drawing it will be seen that the head n³ of
the moveable handle or lever n bears on its under side on the fixed
cutter, and on its upper side on the bridle-shaped head m² of the fixed
handle m, the side uncut away parts of the said head m² serving as stops
to limit the motion of the said moveable handle or lever.
.
5 Figure 15 represents in plan, Figure 16 in cross section, and Figure
17 in longitudinal section a clipper constructed according to another
part of my Invention.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of a portion of the moveable handle or
lever of the clipper, and Figure 19 is a plan of the fixed cutter of the
O clipper, Figures 20 and 21 represent a modification of the same. The
same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
and 21.
a is the fixed cutter, and b is the moveable cutter, c is the fixed
handle by which the clipper is held, and d is the moveable handle or
5 lever by which the moveable cutter 6 is worked. The head c² of the

page_text: fixed handle c has the form represented, and serves as a case or cover to
the clipper. Between the case or cover c² and the moveable cutter 6 is
a bow spring e for holding the said moveable cutter in contact with the
fixed cutter a with the required pressure. The cutters a, b, handles c, d,
cover c², and bow spring e are connected together by the central screw
pin f, upon which a screw nut g is screwed as represented. In putting
the parts of the clipper together, the central screw pin f is first passed
through the fixed cutter a, its head taking into a countersink in the
under side of the fixed cutter. The moveable cutter 6 is next placed
on the fixed cutter, the central pin f passing through the slot b² in the
cutter b. The moveable handle or lever d is next placed upon the
said central pin f, the long tubular bearing picce d² on the said handle
d fitting closely upon the said pin, and a stud h screwed into the under-
side of the handle or lever d taking into a hole in the edge of the
moveable cutter. The bow spring e is next placed on the pin f, and
finally the fixed handle c, c². The ends of the expanded head or cover
c of the fixed handle c have studs i, i, on their under side, which studs
pass through the guide slots k, k, in the moveable cutter b, and engage
in holes 7, 1, in the fixed cutter a (see Figures 15 and 19). By now
screwing home the screw nut 9 on the screwed head of the central pin
f the whole of the parts are bound together, and the clipper is ready for
use.
Instead of fixing all the parts of the clipper together by a screw pin
and nut, a wedge shaped cotter and a plain pin may be employed as
represented in Figures 20 and 21. In this arrangement the pin ƒ is
without a screw at its head, and has a cotter hole in it through which
the wedge shaped cotter m is passed. By driving the cotter m to a
greater or less distance in the cotter hole in the pin f a greater or less
tension may be given to the bow spring.
In Figure 20 I have represented a clipper constructed according to my
Invention having a double cutting action, that is to say, the top and
bottom longitudinal edges of each cutter a, b, are provided with cutting
teeth, so that on the motion of the moveable cutter 6 a cutting action
takes place at opposite edges of the clipper. This form of clipper is
particularly useful for clipping the top of the head along the root of the
mane down the flanks, the chest, and between the fore legs or any part
where the hair grows the reverse way.

page_text: The bow spring e may be dispensed with, and the fore part c³ of the
cover or case c² of the fixed handle may be made to take a direct bearing.
on the moveable cutter b. The said cover or case c² is screwed up to
the moveable cutter to the required extent by driving home the screw
nut g.
A cross section of a clipper without a bow spring is represented in
Figure 18.
Figure 22 represents a longitudinal section of a clipper, in which the
moveable cutter bis pressed to the fixed cutter a by coiled springs
according to my Invention. In this arrangement screw pins u pass
through the fixed cutter a and through slots in the moveable cutter b.
Around the said pins u are coiled springs v bearing respectively against
the moveable cutter 6 and under side of the case or cover c². By means
of screw nuts w, w, on the screwed ends of the pins the said coiled
springs may be compressed, and the moveable cutter 6 pressed with
the required pressure upon the fixed cutter a.
In the opposed faces of the fixed and moveable cutters a, b, transverse
corrugations marked p, p, in Figures 17 and 19 are made. These
corrugations are filled with wool or other porous material charged with
oil or other lubricant. When the clipper is worked the lubricant is
pressed out of the wool and is distributed over the moving parts.
The wooden or grip parts r, r, of the handles of the several clippers
are connected to the metallic parts or stems of the said handles in the
manner represented in the section of one of the handles in Figure 1.
That is to say, I make on the end of the metallic part or stem of the
handle a screw 8, which is screwed into a hole in the wooden handle or
grip ".
Clippers constructed according to my Invention, besides being used
for clipping horses and other animals may be used when made of a
larger size for clipping the grass of lawns and for clipping and shearing
generally.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in

page_text: Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements in clippers
for clipping horses and other animals and for other like
purposes,―
First. Holding the moveable cutter to the fixed cutter with any.
required degree of pressure by means of a bow spring or coiled springs
applied and used substantially as herein-before described and illustrated 5
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, and 22 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Holding the moveable cutter to and guiding it upon the
fixed cutter by means of a partly concave and partly convex spring
applied and used substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
in Figures 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. Guiding the moveable cutter upon the fixed cutter by means
of a rib-like projection on the fixed cutter working in a slot in the
moveable cutter, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
1
Fourthly. The construction and combination of parts herein-before 1
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 14 of
the accompanying Drawings for connecting the fixed and moveable
handles of the clipper to the fixed cutter, and for limiting the motion of
the moveable handle or lever of the clipper.
Fifthly. The construction and combination of the parts of clippers 2
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 18ª, 19,
20, and 21 of the accompanying Drawings, whereby the cutters and
handles and bow spring, when a bow spring is employed, are connected
together by a central screw pin and screw nut, or by a central pin and
cotter, the said central pin or screw pin forming the axis of the moveable 2
handle or lever.
Sixthly. Constructing the head of the fixed handle of the clipper so
as to make it serve as a case or cover to the clipper and also as a fixed
bearing plate for the moveable cutter, as herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 18, and 20 of the accompanying 3
Drawings; also the combination with the said head or case or cover of
the fixed handle of guide studs passing through guide slots in the move-
able cutter and engaging in holes in the fixed cutter, as herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 15 and 17 of the accompanying
Drawings.
3

page_text: CUSCO LL
and 19 of the accompanying Drawings for lubricating the cutters of
clippers.
Lastly. Connecting the wooden parts or grips of the handles of
clippers to the metallic parts or stems of the said handles by means of
screws, as herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Lovell Phipps, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
THOMAS LOVELL PHIPPS. (L.S.)
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.