An Improved Holder or Handle for Legs of Mutton whilst being Carved, and for other Objects of the like kind.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left. th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
An Improved Holder or Handle for Legs of Mutton whilst being
Carved, and for other Objects of the like kind.
I, ALPHONSE MENTION, of 54, Boulevard Pêreire, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improved holder which forms the subject of my present invention is
intended to replace the device, (known in France as "le Manche à gigot,")
ordinarily used for holding the shank of a leg of mutton, whilst the latter is being
carved.
Such holders as ordinarily used are provided with a serew, by which the shank
to be held is firmly fixed in the socket of the holder. This screw, which is often
too short, does not hold sufficiently tightly, and wears rapidly. Its greatest
inconvenience, however, is its liability to fracture, by too strong pressure,-the
part against which it is screwed.
My present invention has for its object a simple and strong apparatus by which
these objections are avoided, and the fixing is instantly effected by simple pressure
on the handle, which pressure is spread over a sufficient space to prevent the risk
of fracture.
The improved instrument consists of a hollow handle, into the outer end of which
is screwed a hollowed curved bar upon the outer end of which is formed a tube or
socket, of suitable size to receive the shank bone which is to be fixed in it. In the
bollowed part of the arm which carries the socket, is pivotted a lever the longer
end of which passes down the hollow handle nearly to the end of the latter, whilst
its upper end is pivotted to the back of a jaw which passes through the side of the
socket. Near the lower end of the lever is formed or fixed a projecting piece
which passes out through an opening in the side of the handle, so that when the
latter is grasped the lever is forced in, whilst the jaw at its other end is pressed
tightly against the bone in the socket. A spring in the handle presses against the
back of the lever, and releases the bone when the pressure on the handle is
removed.
Into the lower open end of the handle is screwed a plug, through the centre of
which passes a short square spindle the inner end of which is provided with a
transverse bar having small angular or ratchet-shaped teeth on its upper surface.
The outer end of the spindle is fitted with a knob, and a helical spring is fitted
round it between the toothed rack and the inner side of the plug so that the former
is kept pressed up against the lower end of the lever, which is made in the shape of
a tooth fitting into the angular teeth of the rack. When the lever is pressed in,
therefore, it is held in the position to which it has been pressed, but can be released
by pulling down the rack by means of the external knob, the lever being then
forced by the spring to its original position, and the bone released.
It will be seen, therefore, that by a simple pressure upon the handle the substance
held in the socket is strongly, instantly, and permanently, held, whilst to release it
a simple pressure on the knob is all that is necessary.
I do not confine myself to the precise details of shape, material, and dimensions,
which may be varied more or less as may be found desirable.

page_text: The ends of the handle may be strengthened and ornamented: by ferrules or
rings.
Dated: 01 3
1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicaut.
An Improved Holder or Handle for Legs of Mutton whilst being
Carved, and for other Objects of the like kind.
I, ALPHONSE MENTION, of 54, Boulevard Pereire, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Gentleman, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
The improved holder which forms the subject of my present invention is intended
io replace the device, (known in France as "le Manche à gigot,") ordinarily used
for holding the shank of a leg of mutton, whilst the latter is being carved.
Such holders as ordinarily used are provided with a screw, by which the shank
to be held is firmly fixed in the socket of the holder. This screw, which is often
too short, does not hold sufficiently tightly, and wears rapidly. Its greatest
inconvenience, however, is its liability to fracture, by too strong pressure, the
part against which it is screwed.
My present invention has for its object a simple and strong apparatus by which
these objections are avoided, and the fixing is instantly effected by simple pressure
on the handle, which pressure is spread over a sufficient space to prevent the risk
of fracture.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being a
longitudinal section through the apparatus, and Figure 2 a side view.
The improved instrument consists of a hollow handle a, into the outer end of
which is screwed at a hollowed curved bar b¹ upon the outer end of which is
formed a tube or socket b, of suitable size to receive the shank bone which is to be
fixed in it. In the hollowed part of the arm which carries the socket, is pivotted
at a lever d the longer end of which passes down the hollow handle nearly to the
end of the latter, whilst its upper end is pivotted at g to the back of a jaw which
passes through the side of the socket. Near the lower end of the lever is formed
or fixed by rivets k, a projecting piece e which passes out through an opening in the
side of the handle, so that when the latter is grasped the lever is forced in, whilst
the jaw c at its other end is pressed tightly against the bone in the socket. A
spring pin the handle presses against the back of the lever, and releases the bone
when the pressure on the handle is removed.
Into the lower open end of the handle is screwed a plug n, through the centre of
which passes a short square spindle the inner end of which is provided with a
transverse bar having small angular or ratchet-shaped teeth on its upper surface.
The outer end of the spindle is fitted with a knob and a helical spring p is fitted
round it between the toothed rack and the inner side of the plug so that the former
is kept pressed up against the lower side of the lever, which is made in the shape of a
tooth fitting into the angular teeth of the rack. When the lever is pressed in,
therefore, it is held in the position to which it has been pressed, but can be
released by pulling down the rack by means of the external knob, the lever being
then forced by the spring to its original position, and the bone released.
It will be seen that by a simple pressure upon the handle the bone or other
substance held in the socket is strongly, instantly, and permanently, held, whilst to

page_text: release it a simple withdrawal of the knob o is all that is necessary. j, j, are
ferrules at the ends of the handle a.
I do confine myself to the precise details of shape, material, and dimensions,
which may be varied more or less as may be found desirable, but
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 :-
1. An improved handle or holder for legs of mutton whilst being carved, or other
objects of the like kind, in which by simply grasping the handle an instantaneous
and effective grip by a lever is obtained, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The combination with the gripping lever, of a device by which the lever when
tightened against the bone or other object is retained in its position until it is
desired to release it, substantially as described and illustrated.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.