IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCISSORS AND SHEARS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Russell, of Darnley Terrace, Gravesend, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCISSORS AND
SHEARS."
Sealed the 3rd April 1857, and dated the 21st November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
November 1856.
I, SAMUEL RUSSELL, of Darnley Terrace, Gravesend, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCISSORS
AND SHEARS," to be as follows:-
In the use of scissors and shears, constructed in the ordinary manner, it is
found that the blades rapidly wear loose on the rivet or pin which connects
them, and then the scissors and shears cease to work efficiently.
Now, this Invention consists in the use of a spring to compensate for the
wear by drawing up the rivet or pin, and thus keeping the blades in contact.
For this purpose different forms of springs may be employed, but a curved
steel spring is preferred; this spring has a hole at or near its centre, through
which the rivet or pin passes. The spring is placed on the outer side of one
of the blades, and its ends press on the surface thereof so as to keep it always
in contact with the other blade of the pair of scissors or shears notwith-
standing any wear which may take place in the blades and rivet or pin.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
RUSSELL, of Darnley Terraco, Gravesend, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Samuel Russell, Her special licence, that I, the said Samuel Russell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Russell, my executors, administrators, and assigns should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during tho
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 THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SCISSORS AND SHEARS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said
Samuel Russell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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
Oflice within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Russell, 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 :-
In the use of scissors and shears, constructed in the ordinary manner, it is
found that the blades rapidly wear loose on the rivet or pin which connects
them, and then the scissors and shears cease to work efficiently. Now, this
Invention consists in the use of a spring to compensate for the wear by drawing
up the rivet or pin, and thus keeping the blades in contact. For this purpose
different forms of springs may be employed, but a curved steel spring is pre-
ferred; this spring has a hole at or near its centre, through which the rivet
or piu passes. The spring is placed on the outer side of one of the blades, and
its ends press on the surface thereof so as to keep it always in contact with
the other blade of the pair of scissors or shears, notwithstanding any wear
which may take place in the blades and rivet or pin.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure is a side view of a pair of scissors constructed according to my
Invention. a and b are the two blades, connected together by the pin or
axis c; and d is a curvel spring of steel by which the blades are kept up to
each other, notwithstanding any wear which may take place in the blades or
in the pin or axis.
The arrangement of all the parts is clearly seen in the sectional view,
Figure 2.
I would remark that a spring differing in form and material from that shown
in the Drawing may be used for keeping the two blades of a pair of scissors
or shears in contact with each other, but the form shewn is that which I prefer
to employ.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Russell, have hercunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
20 Witness,
.W CARPMAEL, Jun.
SAMUEL RUSSELL. (L.S.)