Improved Means for Securing Surgical and other Instruments to their Handles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
COMI LELE DI ECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Securing Surgical and other Instruments to
their Handles.
I, WILLIAM SCHOTT, of the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and
State of New York, United States of America, 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:
My invention relates chiefly to surgical, dental or other instruments, the object of
the invention being to provide an improved means of detachably fitting to a handle,
different blades or similar instruments, whereby one handle may answer for a number
of different instruments. Although this is the original design of my invention, it is
obviously applicable also to other forms of knives, tools, and the like.
The plan of using a single handle for different blades or tools, due provision being
made for securing them together and readily detaching them, has long been practised
in many different ways; but my invention I conceive to be a substantially better and
more convenient means for accomplishing the same object.
Surgeons, dentists and mechanics when using such implements as these, require a
readily-detachable blade or tool which is strongly or firmly held in its place in the
handle. The shape of the handle is of importance, and the presence of any device in
the handle for securing and releasing the blade is a serious objection if it is in any
way likely to form an obstruction to the free use of the handle or is of such character
that it is likely to be accidentally pressed or turned or otherwise operated when it is
not desired. The requirements of a device which entirely avoids the objections to the
heretofore existing handles I have secured by my present improvement, in which a
bifurcated handle contains a spring-catch operated by a push-button projecting slightly
out from the handle, and a blade or tool with a bifurcated shank which, when pushed
into the slot in the end of the handle, receives the catch therein between its prongs
and is locked in place thereby. This is the general plan of construction. The
details of the same will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying
drawing in which
Figure 1 is a view of the handle and a blade combined, a portion of the former
being cut away to exhibit the catch.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle.
Figure 3, is a side view of the securing plate, spring and catch.
Figure 4 is a top view of the same.
Figure 5 is a side view of a blade adapted for use in the handle.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure I showing a modification of the securing
plate, spring and catch.
Figure 7 is a top view of the modified plate, spring and catch.
A is a handle, of hard wood, rubber or any other suitable material.
After being
properly shaped for easy manipulation, a slot B, is formed in its blade end, con-
veniently by a saw cut. The head of this slot is widened to form a recess a, for the
location of the press button. In this slot is inserted a metal plate C, which is held in
place by screws or rivets b, b passing through the plate and the sides of the handle.
The plate C is formed with a resilient or spring arm D, which projects towards
the rear end of the handle and is then bent forward and upward and carries upon its
top a button E, which is located in the recess a, and extends slightly above the
surface of the handle when the parts are in place. The projection of the spring
arm D, back of the button E, is contained in a cavity formed in the handle which is
sufficiently large to permit of the necessary movement of the spring. The end of
the arm D terminates in a catch e, located near the button E and on the blade side

page_text: thereof, the catch being preferably slightly bevelled off on its blade side or edge to
facilitate its engagement with the shank of the blade.
The blade or other tool F is made. in any desired form but with a flat bifurcated
tang or shank, the prongs or parts being designated by G and H. The slot or space
between these parts is of just sufficient width to admit the plate C, and the width of
the slot B is just sufficient to admit the thickness of the shank of the blade.
Near the end of the upper prong G of the shank, a notch f is formed having such
position that when the shank of the blade is adjusted, the catch e will enter the notch
and hold the blade in place. The rear of this notch is preferably bevelled off in the
direction of the catch to facilitate the engagement of these parts. In case both edges
of the blade or other instrument are intended for use, the notches f, are preferably
formed near the ends of both of the prongs of the shank as shown in Figure 5 of the
drawing, which will enable either of the edges of the instrument to be the upper or
lower edge. The plate C should fit closely up into the head of the slot in the shank,
so as to prevent any vertical movement of the blade. The sides of the handle between
which the shank is held prevent any lateral movement of the blade.
The blade is secured to the handle by simply inserting the shank along on the
opposite edges of the plate C until the notch fand the catch e are brought into
engagement. To remove the blade the button E is pressed until the catch e is forced
out of engagement with the notch f.
By this construction I obtain a sure and firm connection between the blade and the
handle which can he established or severed with great ease and celerity. The con-
struction is greatly simplified and the number of parts reduced.
In the modified construction shown in Figures 6 and 7 the spring of the arm D is
located forward instead of behind the press-button E, as shown in the previous
Figures of the drawing. In the modified construction a rearward extention g of the
spring arm operates in a recess h just behind the press-button. This extension
working in its recess which should be only wide enough to permit of the required
vertical movement, prevents any unnecessary lateral movement of the spring arm and
the press-button and keeps these parts in their proper position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I do not confine myself to the exact construction of the parts shown but what
I claim is
The combination with the bifurcated or slotted handle, the metal plate C secured
therein and the spring arm D bent and provided with button E extending out
through the handle, of a blade with a bifurcated shank adapted to fit into the
slotted handle over the plate C the shank and spring arm being formed with
engaging parts which lock the blade in place, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th dow of In
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.