Improvements in Knobs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knobs.
We, WILLIAM LIVINGSTONE, of Flushing, Queen's County, Long Island, State of
New York, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, and JOHN COOPER, of the City, County and
State of New York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in metal knobs, and has for its object to
produce a knob which shall be cheap and easy to manufacture, durable in construction
and one which shall comprise but a small number of parts.
With this end in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction
and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out
in the claims.
"
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the sheet metal blank from
which the knob is made. Figure 2 is a view of the same after it has been cupped
and its members or leaves made to appear as spoons. Figure 3 is an elevation partly
in section, showing the disked blank and the manner of attaching a sheet metal
bushing thereto. Figure 4 is a similar view showing a solid bushing. Figure 5
represents the cap or seal for securing the members or leaves of the knob together.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the bushing shown in Figure 3. Figure 7 is a plan view of
the bushing shown in Figure 4. Figure 8 is a plan view of the finished knob, showing
the bushing in dotted lines. Figure 9 is an elevation partly in section, of the finished
knob, showing the bushing and knob made of a single piece of metal.
A represents the body of the blank, and B the V-shaped members or leaves integral
therewith, these members or leaves being four in number as shown in the drawing,
or any other desired number may be made, at the same operation with the cutting out
of the blank, the leaves or members B are stamped spoon shape, the spoon shape
leaves are then turned up and simultaneously with this operation the body A of the
blank is disked by means of a suitable tool, a flat portion B¹ being left at the centre.
An opening 1 is made in the centre portion B" for the accommodation of a spindle
and a series of slots 2 (see Figure 3) are made around and in proximity to the
opening 1, for a purpose hereinafter explained. A cylindrical bushing 3 of sheet
metal is provided, having its lower or free end closed by an integral disc 4, and its
upper end open. At the open end of the bushing a series of lugs 5 are provided and
adapted to enter the slots or perforations 2 in the shell, which after being inserted in
said slots are bent over as shown in Figure 3, thus securing the bushing to the shell.
An opening is made in the closed end or disc 4 of the bushing in alignment with the
opening 1 of the shell, for the accommodation of a suitable spindle 5*, which passes
through said openings as shown in Figure 3. At a point between its ends, the bushing
is provided with an opening 6, for the accommodation of a screw 7, which passes into
a screw-threaded opening 8 in the spindle 5ª, and thus the bushing is secured to
the spindle. In the form shown in Figure 9 where the bushing and knob are
made of a single piece of metal, the portion B' of the blank or shell is dispensed
with entirely, and in place thereof a disc 9 having a flange 9" is wedged into the upper
end of the bushing and provided with an opening for the accommodation of the end of
the spindle.
When a solid bushing is employed as shown in Figure 4 the usual opening will be
provided for the accommodation of the spindle, which latter is held in place in the
bushing by means of a screw 10, passing through the bushing and into the spindle. In
this form the upper end of the bushing is recessed or made in the form of a hexagon
or other shape having flat faces, as shown in figure 7. When such bushing is
employed the opening in the flat portion B' of the blank or shell will be cut away,

page_text: leaving only lugs 12, projecting inwardly, said lugs 12 being adapted to conform to
the flat faces of the hexagon. The bushing is inserted into the opening in the shell,
and the lugs 12 made to lie flat against the faces of the hexagon-the end of the
hexagon shaped portion of the bushing being then upset to produce a flange 11
over the lugs 12. Thus it will be seen the shell and bushing are securely fastened
together.
The members or leaves B are each provided at a point near their free ends, with
perforations 13, and to complete the knob these members are bent so as to bring their
free ends together, where they are fastened by means of a cap or seal 14. This cap or
seal 14 consists of a flat piece of metal having lugs or ears 15 projecting therefrom,
which lugs or ears when bent at right angles to the body of the cap, are adapted to
enter the perforations 13 in the free ends of the members or leaves B. The members
or leaves B being thus united by means of the cap 14, a tool may be inserted through
the bushing and the ends of the lugs bent or upset, thus securely uniting the free ends
of the members B.
By constructing a knob and its bushing as above set forth, it may be made easily
and cheaply, at the same time being durable, light and substantial.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A knob made from sheet metal blank, comprising a body portion and integral
leaves, the said leaves being shaped and bent to form the outer portion of the shell,
and means for securing the leaves in position, substantially as set forth.
2. A knob made from a sheet metal blank comprising a body portion, integral
leaves or members, the latter forming the outer portion of the shell, and a cap for
securing the free ends of said leaves or members together, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a knob made of a single piece of sheet metal, and having
slots therein, of a sheet metal bushing having lugs to enter the slots in the knob,
substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a sheet metal knob comprising a body portion and integral
leaves or members secured together, the rigid leaves or members forming the front
face of the knob, of a sheet metal bushing projecting rearwardly from the body,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th dow of May 1890
F. W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.