IMPROVEMENTS IN SCISSORS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SCISSORS." -A communication from abroad by
Jacques Frédéric Paul, Gentleman, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris.
Sealed the 22nd January 1869, and dated the 6th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th August 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCISSORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in scissors, whereby they may
be safely carried in the pocket, the blades being enclosed between the
rings or bows when not in use.
These improved scissors may be made wholly or partly of steel and
ornamented in any suitable manner, and may be of any form or
dimensions desired.

page_text: Figures 1, 4, and 5 of the annexed Drawing show three different forms
of scissors constructed according to this Invention in position for use,
but which are capable of being doubled together in the manner shown
at Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 2 shows the partially closed position, and Figure 3 the position
when closed, in which case it will be seen that the scissors are comprised
within a very small compass, the blades a being enclosed between the
bows b, which form a protection for the same. Various modes of jointing
the blades to the bows may be adopted.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 show an arrangement specially applicable to
scissors with short blades. Spaces are made in the bows b, b, in which
the ends of the blades are placed and there hinged in the same manner
as a folding corkscrew. For this purpose the parts c, c, of the blades
are provided with projections f, Figure 8, entering a groove made on
each side of the space above mentioned. The parts c, c, are further
held in the space by means of pins to permit of the blades being opened
out from the bows, which latter act in the manner of a spring to hold
the blades either in the folded position, Figures 2 and 3, or opened out
as in Figures 1, 4, and 5.
Figure 9 shows a nail file d, which may be formed on the edge of
one or both bows b. Where the blades are of increased length I make
the bows of oval form, as seen in Figure 5.
Figures 6 and 7 also show a mode of mounting scissor blades of
increased length, said blades may also be fitted to fold together as before for
carrying in the pocket or at the waist. Spiral springs are placed in the
ends e, e, of the stems c, c, for holding the blades either in the open or
closed position by the aid of a stop. This latter mode of mounting the
blades may also be adapted to the arrangements before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent 30
Office on the 5th February 1869.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-secondl
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and.
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence.
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCISSORS," a communication to me from abroad by Jacques Frédéric Paul,
Gentleman, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors
or administrators, 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 dato of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that'
is to say):
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in scissors, whereby they may
be safely carried in the pocket, the blades being enclosed between the
rings or bows when not in use.
These improved scissors may be made wholly or partly of steel and
ornamented in any suitable manner, and may be of any form or
dimensions desired.
Figures 1, 4, and 5 of the annexed Drawing show three different forms
of scissors constructed according to this Invention in position for use,
but which are capable of being doubled together in the manner shown
at Figures 2 and 3.

page_text: Figure 2 shows the partially closed position, and Figure 3 the position
when closed, in which case it will be seen that the scissors are comprised
within a very small compass, the blades a being enclosed within the
bows b, which form a protection for the same. Various modes of jointing
the blades to the bows may be adopted.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 show an arrangement specially applicable
to scissors with short blades. Spaces are made in the bows b, b, in
which the ends of the blades are placed and there hinged in the same
manner as a folding corkscrew. For this purpose the parts c, c, of the
blades are provided with projections f, Figure 8, entering a groove made
on each side of the space above mentioned. The parts c, c, are further
held in the space by means of pins to permit of the blades being opened
out from the bows, which latter act in the manner of a spring to hold
the blades either in the folded position, Figures 2 and 3, or opened out,
as in Figures 1, 4, and 5.
.
Figure 9 shows a nail file d¹, which may be formed on the edge of one
or both bows b. Where the blades are of increased length I make the
hows of oval form, as in Figure 5.
· Figures 6 and 7 also show a mode of mounting scissor blades of
increased length, said blades may also be fitted to fold together as before
for carrying in the pocket or at the waist. Spiral springs are placed in
the ends e, e, of the stems c, c, for holding the blades either in the open
or closed position by the aid of a stop. This latter mode of mounting the
blades may also be adapted to the arrangements before described.
By the aid of further improvements or modifications I make scissors
on this principle still more easy to handle and more secure, so as to.
guard against their opening accidentally when placed in the pocket.
These scissors may be made of larger size than those before described.
The improvements relate, first, to the application of a spring to each
of the bows for acting on the blade corresponding thereto, and mounted
in the manner of a penknife spring. By the aid of this arrangement the
scissors are enabled to work better when extended, as the blade is thus
rigidly connected to the bow by means of the spring and may be readily
operated. Further, by the aid of the spring greater security is obtained
when the scissors are folded and placed in the pocket as the spring
prevents their opening accidentally.
Secondly. I join the bows to the blades in the same plane, so that the

page_text: points when the scissors are closed may occupy a central position between
the bows.
These improvements are also represented in the accompanying
Drawings. Figure 10 shows the scissors extended, and Figure 11, a
view partly closed.
Figure 12 shows the scissors folded together, Figure 13 being an edge
view of this position. Lastly, Figures 14 and 15 show cach half of the
scissors separate. The same letters apply to all these Figures. a, blades
turning on axis b and each jointed at c, c, to the stems d, provided with
bows ff, the springs g, g, serving to hold the scissors either open or
closed are inserted in the back of each stem d. The bows fare recessed
so as to fit one on the other when folded and to protect the points of the
blades, as shown.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. I claim making scissors to fold so as to adapt them for carrying
in the pocket with safety, substantially in the manner shown and
described.
2ndly. I claim the several modes of jointing the blades shown and
described.
3rdly. I claim the modified arrangement of folding scissors, described
and illustrated in Figures 10 to 15 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)