Improvements in or connected with the Safety Guards of Table Cutlery.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Safety Guards of Table
Cutlery.
1, GEORGE HEMMINGFIELD of Hadfield Houses, Shiregreen, near Sheffield, in
the County of York, Fork Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An improved method or manner of constructing or forming that part or portion
of a table carving fork generally called the guard.
The aim and object of my invention being to supply the said guard with adequate
spring power, to retain it in the requisite position, either vertically or horizontally,
without the aid of a separate and detachable spring as used at present.
To be able to do this in an easy and expeditious manner, I form or construct the
guard of a flat piece of steel or other suitable material, and of uniform width and
thickness.
On one end of this piece of steel or other material I form two or more tongues,
lips or pieces, by splitting, cutting stamping, or any other mechanical means.
One or more of these tongues I make longer than the other or others, and cause
the same to be turned up in such a manner as to form an eye through which a pin
may be passed to secure the said guard to fork shank.
The remaining lip or tongues may be depressed or elevated above or below the
tongue or tongues forming the eye, and as they are made to press or impinge
upon a raised portion. of fork shank they act as springs and retain the guard in
required position.
The guard may be cut or divided any required part or distance of its length to
form the necessary tongue or tongues.
Dated this 12th day of May 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Safety Guards of Table
Cutlery.
I, GEORGE HEMMINGFIELD, of Hadfield Houses, Shiregreen, near Sheffield,
in the County of York, Fork 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 :—
The aim and object of this my invention, namely, an improved method or manner
of constructing or forming that part of, or portion of a table carving fork, generally
called the guard, I attain by providing the said guard with adequate spring power to
retain the same in the required position either vertically or horizontally, without
the aid of a separate and detachable spring as used at present.
To illustrate the principle of my invention and the means I adopt, I have
annexed to this my Specification, a sheet of drawings in which same letters of
reference apply to and indicate same or similar parts or details in the various
figures or illustrations shewn.
By referring to the same it will be seen that
Figures 1 and 2, represent a side view and plan respectively of a carving fork
with the improved guard complete, in its horizontal position.

page_text: Figure 3 shews the shank of fork having the guard removed, and
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two kinds of guards detached from the fork, the
guard represented by Figure being provided with extended ends to form a
fork rest.
The guard A, I form or construct out of a flat piece of steel or other suitable
material, to the requisite configuration, and at one end I form two or more tongues
or lips B, by splitting, cutting, stamping, or by any other approved means.
When the guard A, does not form a fork rest, as shewn by Figure 4, I make the
central tongue or lip C, longer than the others B, and cause the same to be turned
over and under in such a manner as to form the eye D, through which the pin or
rivet E, may be passed, securing the guard A, in position on fork shank.
The tongues or lips B, may be depressed below or elevated above the tongue C,
forming the eye D, to such an extent that they are made to press upon, or impinge
against that part or portion F, on the fork shank, thus acting as springs and
retaining the said guard in required position.
It will be seen that in the shank is formed a recess of suitable size and shape to
receive the eye of guard.
When the guard A, also forms a fork rest the tongues or lips B are continued
or extended any required distance, and formed to any desired shape or
configuration.
It will be seen that in Figures 1 and 2, the dotted lines illustrate a guard
combined with a fork rest, similar in configuration to the guard shewn by
Figure 5.
I do not confine myself to the shapes or configurations of the guards shewn, but
which will be found sufficient to illustrate the principle of my invention, and
how I apply it.
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.
1st. The use and manufacture of carving fork safety guards, constructed with,
and having two or more tongues or lips, as shewn, for the purpose of forming the
connecting eye, and spring or springs requisite for retaining the guard in its proper
position.
2nd. The use and manufacture of carving fork safety guards, constructed and
arranged substantially as herein described and illustrated on the sheet of annexed
drawings.
3rd. The use and manufacture of carving fork safety guards constructed, and
arranged to form a fork rest, and which forms part of, and is solid with the said
guard substantially as shewn on drawings and herein described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of February 1894.
GEO. HEMMINGFIELD.