IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLDING AND CUTTING PLIERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS HAVING A TONGS-LIKE ACTION
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLDING AND
CUTTING PLIERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER
TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS HAVING A TONGS-LIKE ACTION."-A communication
from abroad by Nathan Thompson, of Brooklyn, in the State of
New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th April 1871.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLDING
AND CUTTING PLIERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER
TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS HAVING A TONGS-LIKE ACTION,” to be as follows:-
The object of one part of this Invention is to combine in the one
implement in a simple and advantageous manner both a holding and

page_text: cutting pliers, and this part of the Invention consists in a novel con-
struction of the knuckle of the pliers by providing it with cutters
arranged to operate forward of the rivet that unites the two limbs of
thepers, or in other words, at the root of the jaws which constitute
the holding portions of the pliers. These cutters are preferably formed
separate from or independent of the limbs of the implement, and
arranged on the one side only thereof, by letting the one cutter into a
recess in the edge of the one limb and depression in the face of its
knuckle portion, subject to provision against turning, and making the
other cutter in a cap or knuckle plate fitted to the other limb of the
implement, and arranged to cover the first-mentioned cutter, the whole
being bound or held together by the rivet or screw which constitutes
the pivot of the pliers, and which is preferably made to pass through
both cutters, through a male knuckle portion of the one limb, and
through a female or box-like knuckle portion of the other limb. The
outters may be shaped either to have a nipping or a shearing action,
and the one of them which is formed by the knuckle plate made
adjustable, if desired, relatively to the other cutter, and about the
pivot of the implement, by means of a set screw arranged to pass
through the one limb and to bear as an adjustable stop on the knuckle
plate.
The other part of the Invention is applicable not only to pliers, but
also to various implements or tools having a tongs-like action, and in
which two limbs are arranged to cross cach other at a joint or pivot
common to both. This part of the Invention relates to an improvement
on the joint or knuckle of the tool, and consists in constructing the one
limb of a hollow or box-like circular form at its knuckle portion, cut
away at the sides to allow of the necessary movement of the limbs
relatively to each other about a central pivot, and furthermore formed
with reductions at its open end to receive down within it a flange, made
solid or in one piece with the other limb, which latter is also formed
with a boss or hub that fits and turns within the body of the knuckle
portion of the first-mentioned limb, and rests upon or against the closed
end thereof, so that when the two limbs are rivetted or pivoted together
they are most thoroughly supported both endwise and laterally, and
strain is reduced on the rivet or pivot of the knuckle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent.
Office on the 25th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ÅLFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,. by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty--
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,.
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,,
my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,.
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, cxercise,.
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HOLDING AND CUTTING PLIERS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO
OTHER TOOLS OR IMPLEMENTS HAVING A TONGS-LIKE ACTION," being a com-
munication to me from abroad by Nathan Thompson, of Brooklyn, in
the State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors.
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to.
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent;
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date-
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures. marked thereon (that is,
to say):-
The object of one part of this Invention is to combine in the one-
implement in a simple and advantageous manner both a holding and

page_text: cutting pliers, and this part of the Invention consists in a novel con-
struction of the knuckle of the pliers by providing it with cutters
arranged to operate forward of the rivet that unites the two limbs of
the pliers, or in other words, at the root of the jaws which constitute the
holding portions of the pliers. These cutters are preferably formed
separate from or independent of the limbs of the implement and
arranged on the one side only thereof by letting the one cutter into a
recess in the edge of the one limb and depression in the face of its
knuckle portion subject to provision against turning, and making the
other cutter in a cap or knuckle plate fitted to the other limb of the
implement, and arranged to cover the first-mentioned cutter, the whole
being bound or held together by the rivet or screw which constitutes
the pivot of the pliers, and which is preferably made to pass through
both cutters through a male knuckle portion of the onc limb, and
through a female or box-like knuckle portion of the other limb. The
cutters may be shaped either to have a nipping or a shearing action,
and the one of them which is formed by the knuckle plate made
adjustable if desired relatively to the other cutter, and about the pivot
of the implement by means of a set screw arranged to pass through
the one limb, and to bear as an adjustable stop on the knuckle plate.
The other part of the Invention, although here only shown as applied
to pliers is applicable to various implements or tools having a tongs-like
action, and in which two limbs are arranged to cross each other at a
joint or pivot common to both. This part of the Invention consists in
a novel construction of the joint or knuckle of the tool by constructing
the one limb of a hollow or box-like circular form at its knuckle portion
cut away at the sides to allow of the necessary movement of the limbs
relatively to each other about a central pivot, and furthermore formed
with reductions at its open end to receive down within it a flange made
solid or in one piece with the other limb, which latter is also formed
with a boss or hub that fits and turns within the body of the knuckle
portion of the first-mentioned limb, and rests upon or against the closed
end thereof, so that when the two limbs are rivetted or pivotted
together they are most thoroughly supported both endwise and laterally,
and strain is reduced on the rivet or pivot of the knuckle.
Having thus specified the objects and nature of the Invention, its
description will be proceeded with in reference to. the accompanying
Drawing,

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a side view of a pair of pliers constructed in ac-
cordance with the first part of the Invention, and with its cutters formed
to have a shearing action; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pliers
closed and with the knuckle plate that constitutes the one cutter
removed; Fig. 3 is an interior side or face view of the two limbs of
the implement detached, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section through the
pliers in the line of its pivot; Fig. 5 is a face view of the under cutter
detached; Fig. 6 represents a side view of a similar pair of pliers with
its cutters constructed to have a nipping action, and otherwise altered
to provide for their retention, and the adjustment of the one of them;
Fig. 7 represents a side view of a pair of pliers constructed in accordance
with the second part of the Invention; Fig. 8 a section of the same
taken as indicated by the line x, x, in Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a section through
the line y, y, and Figures 10 and 11 longitudinal views of the two limbs
of said pliers detached as seen from their interior sides or faces.
rear.
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the
Drawing, A, A', represent the two limbs of the implement referred to
in the first part of the Invention, said limbs being constructed to form
holding jaws a, a, at their forward ends, and handles b, b', at their
The one A of these limbs has its knuckle portion B of a hollow
or circular box-like form cut away as at c, c, to allow of the necessary
movement of the limbs relatively to each other about a central pivot d.
Said box-like knuckle portion is also cut away at its back, as at e, to
allow of the passage through it of the wire or other article to be cut,
and is furthermore recessed on its face edge as at f, f, and formed
with projections g, g, to receive and hold the cutting knuckle plate C.
The other limb A¹ is recessed or reduced as at h preferably on both
sides of its knuckle portion B', and formed with a cavity i, also with a
central hole for the passage of the pivot through it. Thus constructed
the limb A¹ is entered at its knuckle portion B¹ within the box-like
knuckle portion B of the limb A, as represented in Fig. 2, and a
plate-like cutter D is inserted within the side recess h of the knuckle
portion B'. This cutter is shaped to fit the recess h, and it is formed
with a cavity corresponding with the cavity i, and pierced with a
hole for the passage of the pivot through it. The central portion of
the plate is preferably of a circular form corresponding with the
box-like knuckle B that serves to receive it. The knuckle plate C
which is notched as at 1, l, to fit the projections 9, 9, and is reduced

page_text: or shaped to form a cutter m, is laid within the recesses ff, of the
limb A over the cutter D, and the rivet pin or screw d is passed through
the box-like portion B of the knuckle, through the knuckle portion B',
and through the cutter D, and cutting knuckle plate C, and secured in
position. Thus put together, the implement is ready for use cither as
a holding pliers at its jaw portions a, a³, or as a cutting pliers by its
cutters D and C, or portion m of the latter, said cutters preferably being
arranged to slightly overhang their supporting surfaces at or near their
cutting edges, and to pass the one under or over the other, so that they
have a shearing action. To give such implement a nipping cut as
contradistinguished from a shearing one, the cutter D is constructed as
represented in Fig. 6, with a raised cutting projections on it to bring
its cutting edge on a level with the cutting edge of the plate C, and
both cutting edges are bevilled from underneath to effect the cut; the
plate C is also formed with a cavity n for play or movement of the
cutting projections & within it. Furthermore, in this Fig. 6, the cutter D
and the recess / in which it fits are formed with V or other equivalently
shaped ends to effect a more secure hold of said cutter against shifting,
and the knuckle plate C which forms the other cutter instead of being
held by projections against turning is made capable of turning on the
pivot d, but is prevented from flying from its cut, and is made adjustable
relatively to the other cutter as required by means of an adjusting stop
in the form of a set screw u, fitted through a projection on the onc
limb, and bearing against an ear of the knuckle plate. These changes
are equally applicable when the pliers have a shearing cut as referred to
in the previous Figures of the Drawing, or the cutter D and the cutting
knuckle plate C in Fig. 6 may be fitted and secured if preferred as
described in said previous Figures.

page_text: reductions f, f, while a boss or hub on the knuckle portion of said
limb fits and turns within the body of the knuckle of the other limb
and rests upon or against the end c³ thereof. By this construction the
two limbs A, A³, when fitted and rivetted together have a threefold
bearing provided for them at their knuckles, the central pin or rivet d
forming one, the hub e another, and the flange C² constituting a third
and most important support both endwise laterally, and as against twist,
and in conjunction with the hub e* aiding materially to steady or stiffen
the implement at its knuckle and to relieve the pin or rivet of strain.
It is an important feature that this flange C* should be made solid or in
one piece with the limb to which it belongs.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of " Improvements
in Holding and Cutting Pliers, Part of which Improvements is applicable
to other Tools or Implements having a Tongs-like Action," as communi-
cated to me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,—
First. A holding and cutting pliers having its cutters constructed as
described and arranged at the knuckle of the implement, and at the
root of its holding jaws, substantially as specified with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the Drawing.
Secondly. Constructing pliers and other tools having a tongs-like
action with a knuckle B³ of the one limb of the tool formed with a
solid flange C at its one end or side and with a hub e in combination
with the knuckle B of the other limb of a circular box-like construction
having side openings c³, c², and reductions f", f, for the flange C² to
fit and turn in, substantially as described with reference to Figures 7, 8,
9, 10, and 11 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-