Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Jules Lepage of Paris in the Republic
of France, Cutler 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 pocket or clasp knife which possesses the
advantages of presenting no angles or projecting parts to the blade or metal work
when shut, opening very quickly and readily and to a certain extent automatically
and of maintaining the blade rigidly fixed when in the open position.
I will describe the Invention with reference to the accompanying Drawings
whereon figure 1 shews the knife in longitudinal section, the full lines shewing
the parts in the closed position and the dotted lines shewing them in the position
which they assume when the knife is partly open.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section shewing the knife with the blade fixed in the
open position and figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 1-2,
figure 1.
This knife consists of three main parts, namely: (1) a haft or handle m,
having therein a deep longitudinal recess n, (2.) a blade a, and (3.) a hooked arm
or lever b. When the knife is shut, as shewn by the full lines in figure 1, the
blade a and the hooked lever b are contained within the recess n in the haft in
such a manner that the surface of the latter presents no projection whatever. The
blade a
provided at its posterior end near the hinge pin k, of the blade with two
notches f and g, the object of which is hereinafter explained.
In the arrangement illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the posterior end of the
lever b is made in the form of a hook at e, and carries a button or projection c,
provided with an eye for the reception of a ring. The other extremity of the
lever is provided with a hook or nose d and the lever itself may be caused to turn
upon a pin p, by pressing on the button or projection c.
When the knife is closed, the blade a and the hooked lever b occupy the
positions indicated in full lines in figure 1, and the hook or nose d engages with
the notch f in the blade. In order to open the knife, the blade of which when

page_text: .
closed, is completely imbedded or concealed within the haft, it is simply necessary
to press upon the button c, forming part of or connected to the the lever b where-
upon the said lever yields to the pressure and turns upon the pin p, and assumes
the position indicated by the dotted lines in figure 1. This movement of the
lever causes the part e, to act upon the end of the knife blade at l, and push out
the said blade into the dotted position (figure 1,) where it can be readily laid hold
of with the fingers and opened completely as shewn in figure 2.-The lever b, is
then returned to its original position and the hook d, now engages with the notch g,
in the blade and retains the latter rigidly in the open position.
In the modification illustrated in figure 4, the knife is provided with two
springs r,
, formed by a plate fixed at i, to the bottom of the recess in the handle.
When the knife is closed the posterior end of the blade compresses the spring r,
and the heel e, of the lever b, when the latter is shut down, presses upon the
opposite spring in such a manner that, when pressure is applied to the button c,
the spring arm 71 assists in throwing up the lever b, and the blade being thereby
released is similarly thrown up by the spring arm r. The lever b, may then be
returned to the original position in order to firmly secure the blade in the open
position as shewn. It will be observed that in this arrangement the action is to a
certain extent automatic.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a pocket or clasp knife, the combination of a haft or handle; a pivoted
blade; and a pivoted arm or lever which retains the said blade in position
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The improved pocket or clasp knife having a haft or handle m, and a
pivoted blade a, in combination with a pivoted arm or lever b, serving to push the
said blade out of the recess in the haft or handle and to retain the blade rigidly
in its open position substantially as herein before described with reference to
figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The improved pocket or clasp knife having a haft or handle m, and a
pivoted blade a, in combination with a pivoted arm or lever b, and springs r, r¹,
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to
figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of November 1885.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
Agent.