Improvements in Lamp Wick Trimmers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Lamp Wick Trimmers.
I, WILLIAM CHANDLER of North Ben, District of Yale, British Columbia,
Canada, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.—
This invention relates to lamp wick triminers and consists of a device constructed
in a simple and inexpensive form and by means of which the burnt portion of a
lamp wick can be easily and readily removed and the wick at the trimming or
cutting operation shaped in such a manner as to cause the light to burn evenly and
brightly and without smoking.
In timmung lamp wicks by scissora in the usual way, the wick is usually first cut
straight across and then each coiner 18 bevelled o cut off so that the wick shail
burn eseuly.
Oftentimes some little trouble is involved before being able to cut the wick to
the required degree of nicety to insure an even light free from smoke.
The main object of this invention is to produce a device the cutting limbs of
which are shaped in such a manner as to trim the wick to the required shapo to
give a clear light at one operation.
The device is further constructed so as to intercept the portion of the wick
which is
removed and which would otherwise fall against and accumulate
around the burner and thereby increase the risk of the lamp taking fire aud
exploding,
My invention consists of a cutting device provided with two limbs pivotted together
and having two ings for the reception of the finger and thumb of the person to
facilitate the timing operation
The opposite ends of the limbs are in the form of two cutting blades with sharp
adjacent edges and when closed lie one over the other.
The blades are formed with the outside edge turned up all round so as to
Constitute a tough or receptacle for the removed wick which is thereby prevented
dropping about and becoming entangled in the lamp.
The blades may be slightly curved in the direction of their length so that at the
cutting operation the wick is left higher in the centre than near the edges so as to
insure a clear flame when buining as before stated.
The curved blades before mentioned are particularly adapted for the trimming
of flat wicks but for circular wicks the blades may be straight.
The upper cutting blade, preferably, may be formed with a transverse bridge or
projection in close proximity to the pivot so as to complete the trough before
mentioned and may also be spring controlled to assist in cutting the wick cleanly.
Dated this 7th day of May.
BOULT & WADE
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Lamp Wick Trimmers
1, WILLIAM CHANDLER, of North Bend, District of Yale, in the Province of
British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, 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.
This invention relates to lamp wick trimmers, and consists of a device constructed
in a simple and inexpensive form nud by means of which the burnt portion of a
lamp wick can be easily and readily enioved, and the wick at the trimming or
cutting operation shaped in such a manner as to cause the light to burn evenly and
brightly and without smoking.
In timming lamp wichs by scissors in the usual way the wick 18 usually first
cut straight across and then each corner is bevelled or cut off so that the wick shall
bunn evenly
Oftentimes some little trouble is involved before being able to cut the wick to
the required degree of nicety to insure an even light free from smoke
The main object of this invention is to produce a superior device the cutting
limbs of which are shaped in such a manner as to trim the wick to the requied
shape to give a clear light at one opera ation.
The device is further constructed so as to intercept the portion of the wick which
is removed, and which would otherwise fall against and accumulate around the
bune and thereby increase the usk of the lamp taking fire and exploding.
My invention consists of a cutting device provided with two limbs pivotted
together and having two rings for the reception of the finger and thumb of the
person to facilitate the trimming operation.
The opposite ends of the limbs are in the form of two cutting blades with sharp
adjacent edges and when closed lie one over the other.
The blades are formed with the outside edge turned up all round so as to
constitute a trough or receptacle for the removed wick which is thereby prevented
dropping about and becoming entangled in the lamp
The blades may be slightly curved in the direction of their length so that at the
cutting operation the nick is left higher in the centre than near the edges so as to
insure a cleat Hame when burning as before stated.
The curved blades before mentioned are particularly adapted for the trimming
of flat wicks but for enculat wicks the blades may be straight.
The upper cutting blade preferably may be formed with a transverse bridge
o projection in close proximity to the pivot so as to complete the trough
before mentioned and may also be sping controlled to assist in cutting the wick
cleanly
In order to assist to a clear understanding of the invention reference is to
be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification, in
which sumila figues of reference indicate coesponding parts in all views
shown
Figue 1 is a perspective view of the improved trimming-shears in the preferred
form
Figure 2 is a top view of the device, and
Fig 3 15 a side or edge view of the device, with its cutting-blades folded.
10, 11, respectively indicate the upper and lower blades of the timining-shears
when these parts are shaped as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3
The blades of the improved wick trimmer can advantageously be produced from
sheet steel, that is cut into marginal shape by suitable dies and then pressed into
form by other dies. The blades may also be produced by drop forging, as is usual
for small steel articles that are to be manufactured in quantity and of an exact

page_text: shape; it being also feasible to cast these parts into form, if such a method of
production should be considered most available
In the illustrations of the improvement, the cutting blades 10, 11, are indicated
as produced from sheet steel, and, as represented, the lower blade is furuished with
an integral upright guaid flange 12, that projects from the back or outer edge of
snud blade, at a right angle to the upper surface of the saine. The guaid lange 12,
extends around the curved outer teiminal of the lower blade 11, and terminates
at the heel of said blade, or near where it is pivoted to the upper blade.
-
The blade 11, and its upright guard flange 12, are upwardly curved a propor
degree, as shown plainly in Fig. 3, the blade portion that extends beyond the rear
terminal of the guard flange being made flat to adapt it for the reception of a jointed
connection with a similar portion on the blade 10
The upper cutting blade of the improved tumming shears has a general'
conformation similar to that of the lower blade 11, and is pivoted on it by a vet
or by a screw and nut as shown at 13 the length of the upper blade-from this pivotal
connection to the outer face of the curved portion of the guard flange 14 on its free
end, being so proportioned that said flanged end will have clearance with regard to
the similar curved flange on the bottom blade, and the blades be adapted for a
closely folded adjustment, as is indicated in Fig 3
The upper blade 10, has a looped spring 15, integially formed on it near the
pivot 13, which spring projects upwardly and for effective service may extend
above the guard flange 14, the legs of this louped portion being formed nearly
parallel and at night angles with the level rear extension of the blade
The spring 15, is designed to form a rear cross wall for the guard Hange 14, that
it is preferably integral with, its most important function being to maintain one
blade pressing in contact with the other blade and as shown in the drawings it
serve to graduate the pressure of the upper blade on the lower one so that tho
cutting edges will have a proper shearing action in use.
Preferably, the back and cutting edge of each blade are made parallel as is
represented in Fig 2, which shape will best co-act with the similarly arched form
of the blades, to adapt them to cut freely and easily, the spung 15, serving to give
an assured cut, thereby trimming and giving the top or cut edge of the wick a
slightly arched form which is the best shape for said edge to insure a clear and
properly shaped flame when the lamp is in service
The blades 10, 11, are furnished with the usual bow handle pieces 17, 16, that
are provided for the convenient manipulation of the complete wick timmer, the
handle pieces being united with the blades by any suitable means, if they are not
integially formed.
The peculiar formation of the blades and then guard flanges, together with the
spring at the rear end of the top blade, forms a continuous flange around the blades
on their upper side, when said blades are in a closed condition, thus providing an
open recess for the reception of the charied wick when it is completely severed by
the blades from the unburned portion of the latter, which will prevent any escape
of the refuse or snuff from off the blades until it is purposely removed.
It is claimed for this improved device, that it is simple, practical, superior for its
use, capable of production at a low cost, and in the matter of affording a continuous
refuse receptacle on the top of the blades, as well as the provision of a slightly
yielding sping for the upper blade, possessing advantageous features not found in
other devices of the same type.
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-
1. In a wick trimmer, the combination with the cutting blades of a spring
adapted to maintain one blade pressing in contact with the other blade for the
purpose described.
2. In a wick trimmer, the combination with a cutting blade of a corresponding

page_text: blade pivoted thereto and having an arched portion adjacent to the pivot, the same
forming a transverse spring, as shown and described.
3 in a wick timinci, the combination with an arched and border-flanged lower
blade having a perforated level portion at its beel, and a handle having a ring
formation at its end of an upper blade having a border flange and arched to conform
with the lower blade, and having a perforated level portion at its heel, an upright
looped spring integial with the upper blade and intervening its arched and level
portions said blade being also provided with a handle sunila to that of the lower
blade, and a pivot passed through the perforations in the level portious of the blades,
substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of September 1895.
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.