Improvements in and relating to Portable Apparatus for Outting and Holding Tobacco.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
Improvements in and relating to Portable Apparatus for Outting
and Holding Tobacco.
1, ALFRED DUNCAN STEWART MCCONVILLE, of 27, Newton Place, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to portable
apparatus for cutting and holding tobacco, and which can be carried in the
pocket of the user.
According to my improvements I form a hollow metal case, with a square part
out out of the top for inserting the plug of tobacco. This case would be formed
with a projecting out ledge or shelf on each side of inner surface for a flat inner
frame carrying a cutter to slide on. The inner frame would be formed with
bevelled edges on its sides for a portable cutting knife plate to fit in, and a
transverse slit would be formed near inner end of frame plate for the tobacco to
fall through into outer case after being cut.
A head part would be formed on outer end of frame which would form a lid
for the outer case and give the latter the appearance of a match box. A spring
would be attached to the knife plate such as a spring wire shaped into a series of
diagonals with coils at the ends.
In using the apparatus, the frame carrying the knife plate would be made to
slide over ledges on sides of outer case, and the tobacco plug would be inserted
through part cut away in top of case and made to rest on front part of frame
plate. The knife would cut through the tobacco by taking off a thin slice at
euch forward reciprocating action of knife cutter. The cutting edge of knife
blade would come up against a projecting down ledge on outer case, which
would act as a stop for it after slicing through the tobacco, while the spring
would come up against a similar stop ledge at front of case, and the recoil action
of the spring would automatically give the return motion to frame and knife after
each cutting action. The ledge or inner part of outer case may be made of a knee
shape so as to form a recess to give an increased travel of knife, and the latter
may be formed of an angled or double angled shape.
The cover end of frame when the appliance is not in use would be secured to
outer case by a swivelling hook and pin, while a folding or sliding cover may be
fitted over part cut away in outer case for inserting tobacco plug.
Dated the 8th day of Donember 1907
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Apparatus for Outting
and Holding Tobacco.
1, ALFRED DUNCAN STEWART MCCONVILLE, of 27, Newton Place, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing reference being made
to the accompanying sheet of drawings;--
My invention has reference to improvements in and relating to portable
apparatus for cutting and holding tobacco and which can be carried in the pocket
of the user.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of explanatory druwings, in which Figure 1 is a front view and
Figure 2 is an edge view of the apparatus closed, and Figure
and aro front
and edge views respectively of the same as open. Figures 3 and 6 are front
and edge views respectively of a modified form.
Referring to these drawings:-According to my improvenrents I form a hollow
metal case A with a square part, as at B, cut out of the front for inserting the
plug of tobacco. This case is formed with a projecting out guiding ledge or
shelf C on each side of inner surface for a flat inner frame 1) carrying a cutter E
to slide on.
The inner frame D is formed with bevelled edges on its sides for a
portable cutting knife plate E to fit in, and a transverse slit F is formed near
inner end of frame plate for to allow the tobacco to fall through into outer case
after being cut.
A head part G is formed on outer end of frame which forms a lid for the outer
case and gives the latter, when closed, the appearance of a match box. A spring H
is attached to the frame carrying the knife plate E and to the case A, such as
a wire shaped into a series of diagonals with coils at the ends as shown at H.
In using the apparatus, the frame 1) carrying the knife plate E is made to
slide over the ledges on sides of outer case A, and the tobacco plug is inserted
through part cut away at B in top of care and made to rest on front part of frame
plate I.
The knife E is made to cut through the tobacco by taking off a thin slice at each
forward reciprocating action of knife cutter. The cutting edge of knife blade
comes against a projecting down ledge a on outer case, which acts as a stop
for it after slicing through the tobacco, while the spring I abuts against a similar
stop ledge at frout of case, and the recoil action of the spring automatically
gives the return motion to frame and knife after each cutting action. The
ledge on inner part of outer case may be made of a knee shape so as to form a
recess to give an increased travel of the knife, and the latter may be formed of
an angled or double angled shape.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6 a spring H of spiral form may be used one on each
side of the case A and he carried in tubes J, and plungers K be secured to the
head part G to give the desired recoil action instead of the spring described.
The cover end of frame when the appliance is not being used is secured to outer
case A by a swivelling hook L and a pin, while a folding or sliding cover may if
desired be fitted over cut away part at B in outer case for inserting the tobacco
plug.
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:-
First. The portable apparatus for cutting and holding tobacco constructed all
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings

page_text: Second. The construction or general arrangement of the parts of a portable
apparatus for cutting and holding tobacco all substantially us herein described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a portable apparatus for the cutting and holding of tobacco the
combination with an outer case of a cutting blade carried in a sliding frame and
recoil action springs all substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.