An Improved Turn-screw.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Turn-screw.
I, WILLIAM WARD, of High Street, Portishead, Somerset, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
In the improved turn-screw or screw-driver in which this invention consists the
blade is, at the end which is towards the handle, fitted with a spindle which extends
into the handle and bears at its inner end against a spiral spring the tendency of
which is to project the blade outwards. The range of outward travel is governed
by a stop passed through the handle and bearing on a neck turned on the spindle.
When projected out to the full extent permitted by the stop the blade is clear of
a pinion provided on a ferrule secured upon the smaller end of the handle.
In practically applying the tool the chisel edge of the blade is inserted in the
usual slot in the screw head. Pressure towards the screw causes the blade to be
forced towards the handle and the spiral spring in the handle is thus compressed.
The blade is thus made to engage with the teeth of the handle pinion and the
screw is turned by moving round the handle which now carries the blade with it.
When a partial turn has thus been made, pressure on the screw is temporarily
withdrawn and the blade moves out of gear with the pinion. The handle is then
rotated back and a fresh grip taken by re-engagement of the pinion and blade.
The handle of the instrument moves with the hand of the operator and not within
it as in ordinary turn-screws or screw-drivers.
Accordingly, one hand only need be employed in turning the tool as the handle
thereof does not tend to slip out of the hand of the operator.
Dated this 10th day of July 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
1, WILLIAM WARD of High Street Portishead Somerset Engineer, 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 :-
In this improved turnscrew the invention consists in the spindle at the end of
which is within the handle being fitted at its inner end with a block hereinafter
called the spindle block, containing four teeth. The wooden handle at its large
end having a hollowed metal block, hereinafter called the handle block, with teeth
on its inner end, let into it. The handle block contains a spiral spring within it,
one end of which bears on inside of teeth of spindle block. The handle block is
secured in position by a pin passing through handle. The spiral spring bearing
on pinion causes teeth to become disengaged.
In practically applying this tool, the pressure necessary to keep the chisel edge
of blade into slot in screw head, causes the spiral spring to be compressed and the
teeth to be engaged and the screw is turned by moving round the handle which

page_text: carries the blade with it. When a partial turn has thus been made, pressure
toward the screw is partially withdrawn and the spring causes the spindle block
to move out of gear with handle block. The handle is then rotated back, and a
fresh grip taken by re-engagement of spindle block and handle block. The handle
moves with the hand of the operator and not within it as in ordinary turnscrews,
accordingly one hand only need be employed in turning the tool as the handle of
same has not the tendency to work up and out of the hand.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 represents the outward appearance of the turnscrew.
Fig. 2 represents its inward appearance preparatory to the operation of turning
the screw.
Fig. 3 represents the toothed hollowed metal handle block..
The spindle a, terminating with the metal block b, which has four teeth or
projections c, passes into a wooden handle d, through a brass bush e, at the smallest
end of the handle, the hollowed metal handle block f is provided with a number
of teeth at g of which Fig. 3 is a plan and which become engaged in teeth c, when
the spiral spring his compressed.
In the operation of turning the screw, when the chisel-edge of spindle a is
inserted in the slot head of screw and the wooden handle d is pressed at the
point a¹, the pressure causes the spindle to retreat into the wooden handle
e,
and
the spindle block b, being in contact with the spiral spring h the said spiral spring
is compressed and the teeth c on spindle block b become engaged in the teeth g
contained in the handle block f so that when the handle is rotated the teeth being
engaged enables the operator to use the tool with one hand only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is
A turnscrew in which the spindle at the end which is within the handle is fitted
with a four toothed metal block which when the handle is pressed toward the screw,
becomes engaged with the hollowed toothed handle block let into large. end of
handle so that when the handle is rotated, the teeth being engaged 'enables the
operator to use the tool with one hand and with more ease than with the ordinary
turnscrew..
Dated this 3rd day of April 1895.
WILLIAM WARD.