Improvements in Automatic Pocket and other Knives.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION!
Improvements in Automatic Pocket and other Knives.
We, CLYDE CHESTER BALSTON of 103 Decatur Street; Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, Gentleman, and FREDERICK WILLIAM
BARKER of Addiscombe,' Dunellen, in the County of Middlesex and. State of
New Jersey Patent Agent, both of United States of America, 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:
Our invention relates to improvements in automatic knives; and the objects of
our invention are, first to provide a knife the tangs of the blades of which shall be
operated upon by a. spring, or. springs, so formed and arranged, as to exert a
constant pressure upon the blade tangs at any and all positions thereof; secondly;
to provide an automatic knife having a constant spring, pressure upon the tangs of
the blades and furnished with release' and. locking devices to hold the blades in
position when open or closed and enabling them to be easily released from.either
position;.and thirdly, to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which
shall be simple and effectual in its construction and operation.
With these ends in view we refer. to the annexed Specification and drawings
explaining the construction and arrangement of parts, and combination of parts, in
which our invention consists, as hereinafter pointed out in thė. claims.
In the accompanying drawings
6 A
.
Figure 1 is a side view of the completed knife: with the blades extended,
showing the position of a push piece or button and the metal end caps or. shields;
also the end of a locking device with a nick formed: over the same.
Fig. 2 is a view in part, showing one plate removed to expose the manner of
construction of the blade tang, the springs and locking device.
Fig. 3 is a view in part with one plate removed, showing the blade and spring
action; the push spring, and a modified form of locking device.
"
Fig. 4 presents the same view as Fig. 2 with a broken blade partly. thrown open,
illustrating the action of the springs upon the blade tang.
Fig. 5 is a part of the same.view. as Fig. 3, showing the position of the blade.
when closed, and the action and position of the springs and lock.
J
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of Fig. 2 showing more clearly the shape of the blade
tang, springs, and locking device, and their relation to.èach other.
Fig. 7 is a part of the same view.as Fig. 4 with the. blade entirely closed and>
locked, showing action of the spring and lock.
Fig. 8 is a similar view in part to Fig. 2 with the lock. spring removed, showing.
the action of a modified form of main spring.
i o
Fig. 9 is a view in part, with one plate removed, showing the position and. action
upon the blade tang of a pivoted jaw actuated by a plain spring..
Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a knife blade..and tang, with a broken pin
inserted in the pivot hole, and a portion of the tang removed revealing. the lock.
recess, or hole and bevel.
1...
Fig. 11 is a plan view in part of the side plates and back, showing a push spring,
a lock spring fastening device, lock recesses or punctures, and the end shields
or butts.
Fig. 12 is a view in part of the side plates and back and other:dévices of Fig. 11,
with the additional back lock and spring.
"
.
Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of one half of a side plate with the lock spring
fastening device, back shoulder, and the lock recess. or hole, and bevel.
Fig. 14 shows the upper or back action spring in perspective, with the bearing
lugs at its sides.
i

page_text: Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the lower or main spring, with the bearing lugs
at its sides.
Fig. 16 is a modified form of a single spring taking the place of the springs
shown in Figs. 14 and 15.
Fig. 17 is a sectional plan view of one half of the knife with the blade removed,
showing a portion of the upper or back action spring in place, the action of the
push spring, button, and pin, upon the lock spring; the position of the lock spring
in the recesses or slots; the attachment of the lock spring to the side plate and
the form of the butt ends or shields. A portion of the lock spring is broken
away showing the passage of the blade pivot through the spring to guide and
strengthen its action.
i.
"
Fig. 18 is a face view of the detached lock spring.
Fig. 19 is a view in perspective of a modified form of a catch spring.
Fig. 20 is an elongated push button and pin.
Fig: 21 is another form of the same.
Fig. 22 is a view in part of the knife back, end and tongue, and shields in cross
section.
:
.
Fig. 23 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of a side plate and shield.
Fig. 24 is an end view of the shields and doubled tongue.
Fig. 25 is a perspective view in part of the completed knife end of Figs. 3 and 5
with blade removed, showing a plate, shield, back lock spring and handle.
A represents a knife blade, pivoted to the side plate I by means of pivot Q.
On the tang of said blade are formed a tooth C, and extensions BE forming
between them the recesses B¹ D Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. In the tang of blade A is a
recess, or hole Q' which, as will be hereinafter described, serves as a means for
locking the said blade in position when open.
The lock recess Q' in blade A may be so formed as to pass only partially, or
wholly through the said blade, as shown by the dotted lines Fig. 10.
9
With the plates I K are arranged the main spring R and the reaction spring U,
each having their side lugs or extensions ru inserted into the slots T T' Figs. 2, 4,
6, 7, 11, 12, 17, when the said plate K is placed in its proper position.
The reaction spring R is stamped from spring sheet or ribbon metal and is
formed straight between the points R" S' and upward at said points to R' S,
then downward toward its ends. The main spring U is also stamped from
spring sheet or ribbon metal, preferably thicker than that employed for spring R,
and is formed upward between the points U, U", and slightly downward from the
said points toward its ends.
In the springs W W₁ Fig. 8 the ends are formed to correspond to the shape of
the ends of the springs R, U, and near their central portions they are each bent or
doubled around the pins W", the lower part of the under portion of the said
springs resting against the knife back J. (Each spring formed of one piece of
spring sheet or ribbon metal.)
The single spring V, Fig. 16 is formed of one piece of spring sheet or ribbon
metal with the lugs or extensions and folded upon itself at VI V", its extreme
ends so shaped as to correspond with the same portions of the springs R U.
In Fig. 9 a jaw X" is pivoted to the side plates and acted upon by means of a
plain spring Y the said jaw acting upon the projections of the blade tang precisely
as the teeth of two cog wheels act upon each other.
•
To the plate I is attached by means of the fastening device H formed out and
over as in Figs. 13 and 17, the lock piece or spring G, Fig. 18, having the guide.
hole G through which passes the blade pivot Q. The said lock spring is bent
at.g to form the lock or tongue G. which passes through the recess or slot H₁ of
plate I, Figs. 2, 6, 17.
In the plate K is formed the push spring L' bent out and away from said. plate,
Figs. 11, 17, and surrounded at its free or movable end by the opening d. To the
said spring is attached, by means of the pin o or p the push piece or button O or P,
Figs. 20, 21; the pins of either of the said buttons being firmly secured to the

page_text: spring L', and passing through the hole m of the plate I rest against the lock
piece or spring G.
The body plates IK having the back J, the push springs LL', both bent out
and away from said plates; the fastening devices H M formed as in Figs. 11, 12,
13, and 17; the lock recesses or slots HH"; the slots T T¹, Figs. 11, 12, 17; and
the projections or shields Z Z' Y₁Y"; the recesses II" KL" forming the
shoulders, wa, against which the tongues J J", doubled at the dotted lines it,
fit; are all cut and formed of one piece of metal and folded on the dotted lines jk,
Figs. 11 and 12.
Fig. 22 represents a partial view of the back J folded as before stated, with the
side or body plates IK; the shields Z Z are here shown in cross section. The
tongue
J is doubled under as at the dotted line and fitted into the recesses I' I¹
against the shoulders z y Fig. 11, and made flush at its edges and face with the side
plates and back.
The spring K' formed by splitting the back J for a short distance on the dotted
lines jk Fig. 12, and bearing the tongue J" is a modified form of a back spring
lock, so constructed as to engage and lock the shoulder catch F', which with the
shoulder F, forms the lock recess f of the blade A'. The blade A¹ is a modified
form of the blade A, constructed with the shoulder catch F' to engage the back
spring lock J of the spring K¹.
The outside handles of the knife are cut away on their under sides directly over
the lock and push springs to admit of a free action of the same; and are also
beveled or chamfered on their outer surfaces about the openings formed for the
push buttons, to permit of an easy manipulation of the same.
Having thus described the manner of construction of our invention, in all its
details, we will now proceed to set forth the modus operandi.
When the blade A of the knife is closed, the lock G¹ of the piece or spring G,
passing through the recess or slot H¹ of the plate I, protrudes behind the
extension E of the blade tang (seen best in Figs. 6 and 7) or passes over and into
the recess or slot H" of plate K, thereby securely holding the said blade in position
when closed.
To open the blade A a pressure with the finger end upon the piece or button O,
presses inwardly the push spring L' of plate K; the pin o passing through the
hole m of plate I and bearing against the piece or spring G, forces its tongue or
lock G back through the slot H and clear from the extension E of the blade tang.
The said blade then being without a check or lock, the spring U bearing upwardly
against the reaction spring R at R" presses the said spring at R', against the plain
or raised part B of the blade tang, thereby throwing it partially open. As the
blade opens, the end of the reaction spring R spreads from the main spring U,
widening the space between the ends of the said springs until the end of spring R
fitting into the recess B' bears against the blade tang at that point. When the
springs have separated sufficiently at their ends, the tooth C, entering between the
said springs, receives the strain of the main spring U, which acting upon the said
tooth, throws and holds the blade wide open. As the recess or hole Q' in the tang
of the said blade turns opposite the slot or recess H' of plate 1, the tongue or
lock G of the spring G passes into the recess or hole Qin the blade tang, or by
means of the hole through the said tang passes into the slot H; the bend g of
the piece G fitting into the bevel h of the blade tang, thereby locking the said
blade securely in an open position. To unlock and close the said blade a pressure
upon the piece or button acting upon the push spring L¹, the pin o, and the lock
spring G displaces the lock or tongue G' from the slot or hole of the blade
tang, thereby releasing the blade. In closing the blade, the tooth C of the blade
tang, pressing against the end of the main spring U, forces it inward toward the
knife back J. The reaction spring R pressing upon the main spring U at R"
follows it in its backward course. As the end of the tooth C turns away from the
end of the spring U the plain or raised part B of the blade tang bears upon the
back action spring R and forces it in and close against the main spring U;
j

page_text: the tongue or lock of the spring then again moves into position behind
and under the extension E of the said blade tang, thereby securely locking the
blade closed.
The action of the springs upon the tang of the blade A is in all respects
similar to their action on blade A. The pressure upon the button P presses
inwardly the push spring L, and acting by means of the pin p through the hole!
(Figs, 5, 12) forces the catch piece n of the spring or piece N (Fig. 19). back and
out of the recess E¹ of the said blade tang. The blade flying open through the
action of the springs, as hereinbefore described, presses out the back lock J" and
the spring k', which lock snaps, into the recess formed by the catch shoulder" F¹
and the shoulder F on the said blade tang, thereby securely locking it in an open
position.
To unlock the blade, the lock Ju Figs. 1, 3, 5, 12, is sprung just out of the
recess Fig. 5 by means of the finger or thumb nail and the bevel or nick
Fig. 1, in the handle. The blade may then be closed and again locks itself in that
position.
The action of the springs W W' and V is similar to that of R. U and needs no
description.
יז!
By the foregoing devices the springs are made to form into a very small space
admitting of the knife being made compact and neat in size and form, and at the
same time.strong and effective. The action of the spring actuated jaw X" upon
the parts B C.of the blade tang, is similar to the action of two cog wheels upon
each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In an automatic knife one or more spring's acting upon the tang or tangs of
a blade, or blades, and so constructed as to exert a constant pressure upon the
same at any and all positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an automatic knife, one or more springs so formed at their ends as to fit and
operate upon two or more projections on the tang of a blade, to exert a constant
pressure upon the same at any and all positions, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In an automatic knife a blade, or blades, having their tang or tangs so formed
as to receive and sustain a constant spring action at any and all positions,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In an automatic knife the combination of the spring or springs R U; W,
or V, or the pivoted jaw X" actuated by a spring; with one or more-blades having
their tangs so formed as to receive and sustain a constant spring pressure at any
and all positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In an automatic knife the combination of the blades A or A' with the
springs, R U. so formed as to exert a constant pressure upon the blade tangs
at any and all positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In an automatic knife the combination of one or more blades with the
springs RU, the said blades bearing on their tangs the tooth C, the said springs
so formed at their ends as to operate upon the tangs and teeth of the said blades
and to exert a constant pressure upon the same at any and all positions, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In an automatic knife the combination of one or more blades A A' with the
springs R U, the said blades bearing on their tangs the teeth C. the raised parts
or projections B E, and recesses B' D, the said springs being so formed
at R R U¹ near their ends as to fit into the said recesses and operate upon the
said teeth and projections B C to exert a constant pressure upon the blades at any
and all positions, substantially as herein shown and described.
8. In an automatic knife the combination of, one or more blades A A', their
teeth and projections B C E and recesses BD with the doubled springs W W
"

page_text: bent around the lugs or pins W" and having their ends so shaped as to fit into
the said recesses and operate upon the tangs of the blades, to exert a constant
pressure upon the same at any and all positions, substantially as herein shown and
described.
9. The combination in a knife of one or more blades A A' the projections BCE
and recesses B¹ D, with the spring V formed with the lugs or projections v, and
folded upon itself at VV and so shaped at its ends as to operate and exert a
constant pressure upon the said blade tangs at any and all positions, substantially
as berein shown and described.
10. The combination in a knife of a blade or blades A A¹, the projections and
teeth BCE and the recesses B' D, with the pivoted jaw ✗, the extensions of
the said jaw fitting into the recesses B₁ D and operating upon the projections B CE
of the blade tange, the said jaw being actuated by a spring Y to exert a constant
pressure upon the blade tang at any and all positions, substantially as herein shown
and described.
11. In an automatic knife the springs R, U, bearing the side lugs or extensions ru,
the upper spring R being shaped as at R¹ R, S S¹, and the main or lower spring U
shaped as at U U", substantially as herein shown and described.
12. In an automatic knife the blades A A' containing the lock recesses or holes Q
or E', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In an automatic knife the blade A' having the raised catch F', forming
with the shoulder F the lock recess f, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
14. The combination in an automatic knife of one or more blades, springs, and
the side or body plates, with a movable lock piece or spring securely attached
to one or each of the said plates, the free end of the said lock piece or spring
passing through a slot or slots in suid plate or plates and engaging by means of
a recess or slot the blade tang or tangs, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
15. The combination in an automatic knife of the blades A A¹ the spring or
springs, and the lock piece or spring G movably attached to the side plates;
the said lock piece having one end bent as at G and passing through the slots
or recesses H into recess Q', substantially as herein shown and described.
16. In an automatic knife a lock piece attached to one or each body plate
and passing through the said plate or plates into an indenture or hole in the blade
tang when opened, to serve as a lock; and fitting behind the blade tang when
closed, to serve as a catch to the blade, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
17. In an automatic knife the lock piece or spring G having the guide hole G",
and bent at g to form the tongue or lock G', substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
18. In an automatic knife the side or body plates IK the push springs L L'
and the lock recesses or slots H'H", substantially as set forth.
19. In an automatic knife the side or body plates I K the push springs L L'
and the lock recesses or slots H₁ H" and the fastening devices N M, substantially
as set forth.
20. In an automatic knife the side or body plates I K, the push springs L L',
the lock recesses or slots H' H", and the projections or shields Y Z, Y¹Y",
substantially as herein shown and described.
21. In an automatic knife the catch spring N bent and shaped as at n substan-
tially as set forth.
22. In an automatic knife the combination of the side plates I K with the
back J, the said sides and back formed in one piece, the back J terminating with
the tongues J₁ J", doubled at the dotted lines it and fitting against the
shoulders zy, ox, of the recesses II", K" L" substantially as herein described
and shown.
23. In an automatic knife the combination of the side plates I K with the back J,

page_text: the said sides and back formed in one piece, the back J terminating with the
tongues J1 J1 doubled at the dotted lines it and fitting against the shoulders zy, wx,
of the recesses II", K" L", the said side plates having the push springs LL
substantially as herein described, and shown.
24. In an automatic knife the combination of the side plates I K with the
back J, the said sides and back formed in one piece, the back J terminating with
the tongues J J" doubled at the dotted lines it and fitting against the
shoulders zy, wx, of the recesses II", K" L", together with the lock recesses H¹ H¹¹
the lock piece fastening device H M, and the pin holes m substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
25. In an automatic knife the combination of the side plates I K with the
back J, the said back and sides formed in one piece and terminated with the
tongues JJ doubled at the dotted lines it and fitted against the shoulders zy, wx,
of the recesses II", K" L"; the said back being split for about one third of its
length on the dotted lines j k to form the spring K¹ to serve as a back lock
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
26. In an automatic knife the combination of the side plates I K with the
back J, the said back and sides formed in one piece and terminated with the
tongues JJ doubled at the dotted lines it and fitted against the shoulders zy w x
of the recesses II" K" L", the said back being split for about one third of its
length on the dotted lines j k to form the spring K₁ to serve as a back lock, the
said side pieces I K having the push springs L L', the holes and fastening
devices H M, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
27. In an automatic knife the combination with the push springs, of the round or
elongated push buttons O or P, securely attached thereto by means of the pins o
and p substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
28. In an automatic knife a push button made flush with the outside of the
handles, the said handles being so beveled about the push button as to make a
hollow for the pressure and insertion of the finger end as at c, all substantially as
and for the purpose herein shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of August 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.