IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS." A communication from abroad by
John Jasper Bogard, of Tehama, Tehama County, California, in the United
States of America Gentlemen
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1881.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP SHEARS."
A communication from abroad by John Jasper Bogard, of Tehama, Tehama County,
California, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of sheep shears
which are constructed of several parts, the object of which is to render the blades
detachable; and it consists in providing each of the blades with an extended
shank, by which they are attached by a peculiar joint to the arms or handles of
the spring bow.
The object of the Invention is to make a joint securing the blades to the handles,
which, while permitting them to be easily detached therefrom when necessary, will
be firm in itself, and so constructed that natural wear will not loosen or render it
imperfect, but will, on the contrary, make it as tight and firm when in use as at
first.
In these improved sheep shears a spring bow is provided with the arms or
handles, said handles having a curved outer surface for convenience in grasping,
and a flat inner surface. The ends of the handles have a tongue on their outer
sides. On their flat sides they are provided with a mortice with receding sides,
and their inner ends near the spring bow have a groove or slot with a projecting
lip.
The blades have extended shanks, the end of the shank being cut away to form
a tongue to fit the groove upon the handle. Its outer surface is provided with a

page_text: dove-tail tenon for fitting in the aforesaid mortice, and the end of the shank nearest
the blade has a groove or slot with a projecting lip, into which the tongue upon
the handle fits.
The shanks of the blades are fitted into the handles from the side, the dove-tail
tenon fitting into its mortice, and the tongues and grooves on both corresponding
with each other. Screws hold the two together, and prevent any side play. By
loosening the screws the blades can be slipped to one side and detached from the
handles.
When resistance is offered to the closing of the blades the pressure is directed
upon the shoulder of the tongue on the end of the handle, and the drawing force is
resisted by the dove tail joint, while the inward pressure is resisted by the lip on
the groove upon the handle. Each connection thus serves to hold the blades
tightly to the handles. If in time these joints should become worn, and the
blades do not fit as tightly as at first, the pressure when resistance is offered is still
in the same direction, and the blades are forced as tightly against the joints as
ever.
The exterior surfaces of the handles are corrugated or roughened, so as to give a
good grip.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Cedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th December 1881.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEEP-SHEARS."
A communication from abroad by John Jasper Bogard, of Tehama, Tehama County,
California, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of sheep-shears
which are constructed of several parts, the object of which is to render the blades
detachable; and it consists in providing each of the blades with an extended
shank, by which they are attached by a peculiar joint to the arms or handles of
the spring bow.
The object of the Invention is to make a joint securing the blades to the handles,
which, while permitting them to be easily detached therefrom when necessary,
will be firm in itself, and so constructed that natural wear will not loosen or render
it imperfect, but will, on the contrary, make it as tight and firm when in use as at
first.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a view of my improved shears.
On
A represents the spring bow provided with the arms or handles B, said handles
having a curved outer surface for convenience in grasping, and a flat inner surface,
the ends of the handles B having a tongue a on their outer sides, as shown.
their flat sides they are provided with a mortice b, with receding sides, and their
inner ends near the spring bow have a groove or slot c with a projecting lip, as
shown.
D represents the blades, with extended shanks E. The end of the shank is cut
away to form a tongue d, as shown, to fit the groove c upon the handle. Its outer
surface is provided with a dove-tail tenon e for fitting the mortice b, and the end of
the shank nearest the blade has the groove or slot f with a projecting lip, into
which the tongue a upon the handle fits.
The shanks of the blades are fitted into the handles from the side, the dove-tail
tenon fitting into its mortice, and the tongues and grooves on both corresponding
with each other, as shewn. Screws G hold the two together, and prevent any side
play. By loosening the screws the blades can be slipped to one side, and detached
from the handles. This joint gives strength to the shears, because of the length
of the handles B and shanks E, thus forming a solid connection.
It will be seen that when resistance is offered to the closing of the blades the
pressure is directed upon the shoulder of the tongue a, and the drawing force is
resisted by the dove-tail joint, while the inward pressure is resisted by the lip on
the groove c. Each connection thus serves to hold the blades tightly to the handles.
If in time these joints should become worn, and the blades do not fit as tightly as
at first, the pressure when resistance is offered is still in the same direction, and the
blades are forced as tightly against the joints as ever. The wear will not be in a
side direction, which would cause the blades to pass each other without cutting,
but it is in a direction in a line with the cutting, so that a slight play of that kind
will not render the shears less effective. The screws prevent any side play. The
long handles B of the spring bow and the long shanks E of the blades enable me
to form this joint, and assist in making a solid strong connection for the blades.
The exterior surfaces of the handles are corrugated or roughened, so as to give a
good grip.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid,

page_text: I desire it to be understood that I do not claim broadly shears formed with
detachable blades; but what I do claim as new and secured to me by the herein.
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
In a pair of shears the combination of the spring bow A, having arms or handles B,
said handles being provided with the tongue a, mortice b, and groove c, and the
blades D having shanks E provided with the groove f, dove-tail tenon e, and
tongue d, the shanks E of the blades fitting the handles, and secured by screws or
equivalent device to prevent side play, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.