Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 25th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
I JAMES GORDON of Strand Arcade Derby in the county of Derby Machinist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:
My invention relates to improvements in a certain apparatus used for pruning or.
lopping the branches or stalks of trees, shrubs, canes vines and plants or for like
cutting purposes.
Such apparatus as at present constructed consists of a rod or pole of length suitable
to the object to be operated upon, carrying at one end a handle and at the other a hook
or double curved shear plate, against which oscillates a curved knife worked by a rod
or wire attached to a handle worked by one hand while the other hand grasps the
rod or pole.
By this apparatus the cut is only given by one hand.
My present invention is designed to provide means for operating the cutting knife
against the hook or double curved shear plate by both hands and so facilitate the
handling of the implement.
The aforesaid rod or wire is attached to a sliding slotted bar or plate moving on a
pin or pins in the aforesaid rod or pole, one pin being central or fixed to a plate
secured to the said rod or pole. I connect a pair of toggle levers to the said central
pin furnished with a pair of handles on opening the said handles the toggles expand
forcing the wire attached to the cutting blade and so pushing or forcing upward the
knife from the hook or double curved shear plate.
The branch or stalk is then brought against the hook or double curved shear plate
and the handles being closed the toggles contract, drawing the knife towards the hook
or double curved shear plate and at the same time pulling down the said wire, thus
effecting the cut.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pruning or Lopping Apparatus for Trees, Shrubs,
or Plants.
I JAMES GORDON of Strand Arcade, Derby in the county of Derby, Machinist, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in a certain apparatus used for pruning or
lopping the branches or stalks of trees, shrubs, canes vines and plants or for other
cutting purposes. Such apparatus as at present constructed consists of a rod pole or
stem of length suitable for reaching the object to be operated upon, carrying at one
end a handle or lever and at the other a hook or double curved shear plate in or
between which oscillates a curved knife worked by a rod or wire attached to the
aforesaid handle or lever operated by one hand whilst the other hand grasps the rod
pole or stem. By means of this apparatus the cut is given by the action of the
one hand.
My present invention consists in a means or device for operating the said curved
knife in or between the hook or double curved shear plate by the action of both hands
and so facilitating the working and handling of the apparatus.
Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the figures and letters of reference
thoreon indicated A is the bracket, which may be substituted for the rod pole or stem
as desired, carrying at its upper end a pair of plates B. B¹ formed with a hook end C
acting as a shear plate and bolted or secured to the bracket A, between these and on
pivot D works the curved knife E freely in the space between the said plates B. B¹ as
better shewn on Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. is a front view or plan of the implement or apparatus.
Fig. 2. is a side view of the same.
Fig. 3. is a section on Fig. 2 shewing the toggle and slide pivot.
The knife has a hole F in its end to which I attach or connect a wire or rod G hooked
or linked to a slotted slide H.
On pin K I place a pair of levers L. L' and on the top of these a circular washer.
I then screw on to the pin K. a parallel washer N. Fig. 3. the width of the slot J. this
washer keeps the surfaces of the levers L. L' tight and at the same time acts as a guide
to the slide H.
On the pin K and on the slide H and parallel washer N I place a circular washer
and then screw down the nut.
At A¹ I form a boss on the bracket the top of which forms a bearing surface for the
slide H into this said boss I screw a stud K having a washer under its head this stud
and washer keeping the slide in its central working position. The levers L. L' carry
handles at their ends 0. 0' and I pivot toggles P. P to them at Q. Q1 which toggles
are pivotted at R. to the end of the slide H suitable bolts and nuts, as shewn, keep the

page_text: various pivots and working surfaces in position. On the inside of the levers L. L'
slightly above the bolts at Q. Q¹ I place small projections as dotted in (see Fig. 1.) to
bear against the boss at A³ so as to relieve the pin K. from strain when the levers are
in a closed position.
On opening the handles O. O¹ the toggles P. P1 expand forcing outward the slide H
and the wire or rod G attached to the curved knife E so pushing or forcing upward
the outer end of the knife E and causing its other or cutting edge to leave the hook
or shear plate end C.
The double shear plate or hook is then brought against the branch er stalk and the
handles O. O being drawn together the toggles contract drawing by the inward move-
ment of the slide H and wire or rod G the knife towards the hook or shear plate end C
(as shewn clearly in Fig. 2) and so effecting the cut.
In addition to horticultural agricultural or such like purposes it is manifest that
my invention may be used for cutting other articles such as wire, rods and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner it is to be performed I declare that what I claim is.
First. In apparatus for pruning, cutting or lopping, the combination of a pair of
pivotted handled levers carrying toggles, with a reciprocating slide actuating by
means of a wire or other connection a pivotted knife in or between a hook or double
curved shear plate attached to a bracket, rod, pole or stem serving to support the
working parts substantially as described.
Secondly. The combination and general arrangement of apparatus substantially as
described and illustrated herein and by the accompanying drawings.