Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
I, AROHIBALD HART of Newlown of Pitcairns, Dunning, in the County of Perth,
North Britain, Minister of the Gospel do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of scissors for cutting or
trimming lamp wicks, the construction being for the more particular purpose of
trimming circular wicks.
In accordance with my Invention I form both blades of sickle shape in lieu of
the ordinary straight and tapered form and in lieu of the thumb and finger rings
boing on the same plane as that of the blades as in ordinary scissors, I bend the shank
so that the rings are brought to a position approximately at right angles to the
direction of the blade length, the curved shape of the blades inclines the cutting to
a circular direction and gives a length of cut to the circle of the wick equal to the
length of cut which an ordinary straight pair of scissors would make on a straigh
wick, but which scissors if applied to a circular shaped wick, would only give a very
small cut, at each working of the scissors, and thus produce a jagged instead of a
clean even edge to the wick.
In lieu of bending both the finger and thumb portions, the finger portion may be
kept straight.
I may also hinge the rings so that they may be flat for packing purposes or for
keeping in a case.
The scissors may be of light make as their employment is for the more especial
purpose of trimming, as distinct from cutting, the wick.
By the employment of my improved scissors a proper clean trimming is very
rapidly effected without unnecessarily cutting the wick and have the effect of
producing an even round surface of wick which is conducive to preserving the wick.
Pin d

page_text: In using the scissors the Jamp is preferably held firmly on the table with the
left hand and fed round to the scissors which are held in the right hand.
My improved construction of scissors are applicable for cutting in a circular direction
apon other articles than upon lamp wicks, the scissors being particularly applicable
for clipping out patterns on paper, cloth or other material.
Dated this 29th day of March 1888
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agents.
I, AROHIBALD HART, of Newtown-of-Pitcairns, Dunning, in the County of Perth,
North Britain, Minister of the Gospel, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 an improved construction of Scissors for cutting or
trimming Lamp Wicks, the construction being for the more particular purpose of
trimming circular wicks; my Invention however is also applicable for other cutting
purposes.
Sheets 1, and 2, of the accompanying Drawings illustrate my improved Scissors.
In figure 1, as well as in the other figures of the Drawings, both blades are curved
in lieu of the ordinary straight form; the Thumb Ring is also mounted at a different
angle from the Fingers Ring; in Figure 1, the Thumb Ring A, is fixed fast to the
end of the shank of the scissors, but the said Thumb Ring may be jointed to the
shank, as hereinafter more fully referred to with regard to the other figures of
the Drawings.
In Figure 2, the Thumb Ring A', is forged upon the one shank, the angle at
which the said ring is set being oblique to the plane of the fore finger ring B¹; in
Figure 3, the Thumb Ring A³, is shewn set approximately at right angles to the
plane of the fore finger ring B2.
All these examples shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, may be modified as far as the
shape and the curves of the blades are concerned. For instance with regard to the
Scissors shown in figure 3, which Scissors I prefer for cutting small circular wicks,
as well as for the Scissors shown in figures 1, and 2, the points may be finished
differently, for instance the points of the edges may taper away from each other as
in figure 4, or they may be of the shape shewn in Figure 5.

page_text: The Thumb half of the Scissors is preferrably situated over and not under the other
half, but I may modify this arrangement as required.
I may employ a steel or other spring for automatically opening the Scissors in
taking the cuts, such a spring being shewn at s, Figure 7.
I may construct the scissors so that they can be worked from left to right as
preferred by some people.
Figure 6, illustrates a modification of my Invention with reference to the particular
formation of the thumb and finger rings, relatively with the blades.
As
In order to guide the Scissors when trimming circular wicks, I may use the arrange-
ment shown in figures 3, and 3"; figure 3, being an edge view of the blades.
shown in the Drawings these Scissors are adapted to cut from right to left. I cut a
track O, in the under blade to allow the blade to fall into position on the wick tube..
A modification of this arrangement may be by bending or depressing the under blade,
sufficient to bring its cutting edge level and Hush with the edge of the wick tube, and
I also prefer to bevel the cutting edge upwards as shown in figure 3", and dotted lines
in figure 3, this arrangement preventing the cutting of the brass of the wick tube.
On what are known as the Defries and some other Lamps, one of the circles that
encloses the wick is about one eighth of an inch cut away so that any of the examples
illustrated on the Drawings cut well by resting the lower blade on the lower circle
which serves as a rest and guide.
As a further modification of my Invention of Wick Scissors, one of the blades, the
under one, is made a fixture, when the process of trimming is being effected, by means
of being placed on a rest which encircles the top part of the wick, or on a disc fitting
inner wick case and supported thereon by flanged edge, and which goes round with
the under blade fixed to it as the lever of the upper blade is worked. The upper blade
therefore alone moves in cutting and trimming, the under one being secured always
at the same level and pressing its edge against the outer side of the wick, if cutting
from right to left and vice versa if from left to right. When finished with trimming
the Scissors are lifted off, and then the rest if jointed. These Scissors may be of the
same pattern as those hereinbefore described and are not altered excepting for two
small holes or other contrivance in the under blade for attaching it to the rest ring, or
disc, and supports.
A modification of my scissors is shown in figure 7,; they are shown as capable of
cutting from right to left. There is an improved method of folding back the Thumb
ring; the said ring is hinged the leg of the scissors and its movement controlled
by the spring D, which spring may be the rear end of a springs for opening blades
soe dotted lines Fig. 7,; so that preferably three positions may be given; in figure 7,
the ring is shown in a right angular position, and in figure 7, it is shown extended;
the further or third position being when the ring is thrown back to its shortest
position and against the scissor leg and lying flat along the said leg or approximately
50. The fingers ring as shown in figuro 7, allows three fingers to be inserted comfort-
ably and the said ring is so forged or fashioned relatively with its scissor shank, E,
that the said shank serves as a rest to slide on the table in cutting anything of
length.
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
First. In Scissors for cutting or trimning lamp or stove wicks, and for other
analogous purposes, the various formations of curved blades in combination with the
various formations of thumb and finger rings, substantially as, and for the purposes
hereinbefore described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The angular formations of the thumb ring or the equivalent of the samo
by hinged joints substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In combination with the curved blades, the arrangement for guiding the

page_text: cutting, as shown in figure 3, and 3ª, or any modification of the same substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In combination with Scissors having curved blades and angular or adjust-
ably mounted Thumb rings, the finger ring as shown in figuro 7, substantially us, and
for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fifth. In Scissors having curved blades, the particular arrangement and construc-
tion of the cutting edges, and of the Thumb and Fingers rings, for the purpose of
cutting in two directions, from right to left, or left to right, substantially us horein-
before described and shown in Figure 6, of the accompanying Drawings.
000