Year: 1897

page_text: I, THOMAS STANBURY WELLS BRITTON, of No. 3, Salisbury Terrace, Slade, near
Ilfracombe, in the County of Devonshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved knife and has for its object to provide
means for quickly opening the blade by a mere pressure upon a button or its
equivalent.
My improved pocket knife consists of a handle of the usual kind having a suitable
back or bottom spring adapted to keep the blade in its position when open or
closed.
The blade also is of the usual type but has a perforation, recess or indentation in
its base for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The internal mechanism or parts allowing of the blade being opened as described
consists or consist of a suitable elongated spring whose rear end is dovetailed and
fixed into the rear part of the bottom or back-spring which at that end is broader
than at the forward extremity acting upon the base of the blade. This said internal
elongated spring curves upwardly at its forward end and is depressed by the
base of the blade on the latter being closed, and has a recess or indentation in its
forward part.
One side of the handle is perforated in or near its centre and has an internal
longitudinal recess or groove. A button or its equivalent projects through or into the
said perforation and is connected with an elongated spring or part working on a pin
fixed to the handle. The said elongated spring or part is situate in or above the said
recess or groove and has a projection at its forward end, adapted to enter the
indentation or recess in the base of the blade, in order to keep the latter closed.
Another flat spring, fixed to the handle at the rear end of the said internal recess or
groove acts upon the back of the button above referred to and tends to keep it in
position. There may be a suitable cap or guard preventing the button being depressed
by accident when the knife is carried in the pocket.
The various parts of my knife are fixed together in the usual way by means of
pins, rivets or screws.
1005

page_text: this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
escribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in an improved knife and has for object the provision
of means for quickly opening the blade by a mere pressure upon a button or its
equivalent.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. I shows a finished knife made according to
my invention.
Fig. II shows the same knife with the bone casing of the handle removed, and
Fig III illustrates the internal parts.
My improved pocket-knife consists of a handle of the usual type having a back or
bottom spring a adapted to keep the blade in position when open or closed.
The blade also is of usual construction but has a perforation or recess b in its rear
end for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The internal parts allowing of the blade being sprung open as described cousist in
a spring c whose rear end is dovetailed into the broad end of the back or bottom
spring a. The said spring c curves upwardly at its forward end and is depressed by
the base of the knife blade when the latter is closed. Said spring c has an indentation
at d into which the pin i hereinafter mentioned projects.
One side of the handle is perforated at e and the metal casing of the handle has a
longitudinal slot f whithin which an elongated part g, pivotally connected with the
handle of the knife at h, works; such part 9 having a pin or projection i at its
forward end adapted to pass into the recess or hole b formed in the rear part of the
knife blade. Said elongated part g is connected with a button which projects
through the perforation in the handle as shown in Fig. I. A spring secured to the
metal portion of the bandle at m acts upon the rear part of said button and tends
to keep it in position.
When the knife blade is closed the pin or projection i keeps it in position, but as
soon as the button k is pressed the said pin leaves the perforation b and the
depressed spring c causes the blade to fly open.
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) In a knife a spring such as c substantially as and for the purpose described.
2) In a knife an elongated part such as g pivotally connected with the knife
handle and having a pin or projection at its forward end and a button at its rear
end substantially as described and illustrated.
3) In a knife an elongated part such as g pivotally connected with the knife handle
and having a pin or projection at its forward end and a button at its rear end, and a
spring such as acting upon the rear of said button, all substantially as described
and illustrated.
4) In a knife the combination of the various parts substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of Novembar 1807
THOMAS STANBURY WELLS BRITTON.